11 things to do in Lyon - 11 lucruri de facut in Lyon

Lyon - the city located at Rhone's and Saone's confluence has plenty of amazing experiences to offer. It's a great place to find out everything about the French lifestyle. You've already seen in the movies and it's all as you imaigine: the way they have breakfast, the croissants, the baguettes, women in dresses riding bicycles, people smiling on the streets for no reason. 

Lyon - orasul ce se afla la confluenta fluviilor Rhone si Saone are o multime de experiente de oferit. Eu un loc minunat pentru a afla totul despre stilul de viata francez. L-ati vazut deja in filme si este totul exact cum va imaginati: felul in care iau micul dejun, croasantele, baghetele, femei in rochii ce se dau pe bicicleta, oameni ce zambesc fara motiv pe strada.

1. The city is dominated by the Notre-Dame Basilica built on Fourviere hill, reaching over 300 metres at its peak. The basilica dates from the XIIth ccentury and is remarkalbe for its mosaics and stained glass windows. Dedicated to Virgin Mary, there is a statue that watches over the city and its inhabitants. From here, you have a beautiful view of the city and it's a spot where tourists take pictures. 

Near the basilica there is a miniature Eiffel tower which is only 80 metres high and which is currently used as a TV relly. 

Orasul e dominat de Basilica Notre-Dame de pe dealul Fourviere, al carei varf  depaseste 300 de metri. Dateaza din secolul XII si se remarca prin mozaicurile si vitraliile sale. Dedicata Fecioarei Maria, are si o statuie care vegheaza deasupra orasului si a locuitorilor sai. De aici, aveti o vedere superba a orasului si un loc unde turistii fac fotografii. 

Langa catedrala veti vedea un turn Eiffel in miniatura care are doar 80 de metri si este folosit ca un releu de televiziune. 

2. Below the basilica stands Cathedrale Saint Jean-Baptiste. Here you will find a perfectly working astronomic horologe dating from 1379. Back then, it was used for calling canons to prayer. Now, it is admired for the moving figurines and music that start playing at 2 PM, 3 PM and 4 PM.

Mai jos de bazilica este Catedrala Saint Jean-Baptiste. Aici veti gasi un orologiu astronomic perfect functional care dateaza din 1379. Pe atunci, era folosit pentru a chema canonii la rugaciune. Acum, este admirat pentru figurinele care se misca si muzica ce canta la 2 PM, 3 PM si 4 PM.

3. On the other side of the Saone, you can live the experience of a French market on weekend mornings. A large variety of local specialities, bakery products, fruits and vegetables will steal your eyes and will make your mouth water. Here you will have the oportunity to walk by the locals who are shopping and fit in a small part of their lives. 

Pe cealalta parte a Saonei, puteti trai experienta pietei franceze in diminetile de weekend. O mare varietate de specialitati locale, produse de panificatie, fructe si legume va vor fura ochii si va vor face gura sa saliveze. Aici veti avea oportunitatea sa va plimbati impreuna cu localnicii la cumparaturi si sa va integrati intr-o mica parte din viata lor.

4. Between the Rhone and the Saone is the beautiful Place Bellecour, one of the biggest squares in Europe. A splendid statue of Louis the XIVth stands in the centre of the square. At the base of this statues, there are the statues of Rhone and Saone. 

Intre Rhone si Saone este frumoasa Piata Bellecour, una dintre cele mai mari piete din Europa. O statuie superba a lui Louis al XIV-lea sta in centrul pietei. La bazele statuii sunt statuile lui Rhone si a lui Saone.

5. Le musee des Beaux-Arts - the arts museum or Saint Pierre Palace is nicknamed 'Petit Louvre' (small Louvre). Even if you don't want to visit the museum, it's worth entering the inner courtyard and admire its beauty. 

Le musee des Beaux-Arts -  muzeul de arta sau Palatul Saint Pierre este numit si 'Petit Louvre' (micul Louvre). Chiar daca nu vreti sa vizitati muzeul, merita sa intrati in curtea interioara pentru a-i admira frumusetea.

6. Hotel de Ville - the city hall and the beautiful Place des Terreaux in front of it are some other spots you shouldn't miss. You can admire this building's great architecture while sipping a cold drink on one of the terraces in the square. 

Hotel de Ville - primaria si frumoasa Piata Terreaux din fata ei sunt alte locuri ce merita sa le vedeti. Puteti admira arhitectura acestei cladiri in timp ce sorbiti dintr-o bautura rece pe una dintre terasele din piata.  

7. Go for a walk in Parc de la Tete d'Or. An excellent location where you can spend nearly a whole day. The entrance is free and the park includes a big botanical garden, a zoo, a fantastic rose garden, a lake and plenty of enormous alleys where you can wander. You can have picnic on the grass or you can admire the squirrels that come down from the trees just to enchant you with their grace.   

Faceti o plimbare in Parc de la Tete d'Or. O locatie exceleta unde puteti petrece aproape o zi intreaga. Intrarea e gratuita si parcul include o gradina botanica mare, o gradina zoo, o gradina de trandafiri fantastica, un lac si o multime de alei enorme pe care va puteti plimba. Puteti lua picnicul pe iarba sau puteti admira veveritele ce coboara din pomi doar pentru a va incanta cu gratia lor. 

8. Escape in the nature on L'Ile Barbe. Cross the bridge Pont d'Ile Barbe over the Saone to get away from the city. Walk around and admire the old buildings, some of them unhabited, others habited by the richest people in Lyon. You will also find parks with playgrounds and a restaurant here. 

Evadati in natura pe insula L'Ile Barbe. Treceti podul Pont d'Ile Barbe peste Saone si indepartati-va de oras. Plimbati-va si admirati vechile cladiri, unele parasite, altele locuite de cei mai bogati oameni ai Lyonului. Tot aici veti gasi parcuri cu locuri de joaca pentru copii si un restaurant. 

9. Go up in the Part-Dieu tower, a pencil shaped skyscrapper. At floor 32 you have a panoramic view of the city in the very stylish Celest restaurant. There is also a hotel at the top of this building with great view. 

Urcati in Turnul Part-Dieu, un zgarie-nori in forma de creion. La etajul 32 aveti o vedere panoramica a orasului si un in restaurantul stilat Celest. Tot aici este si un hotel in varful cladirii cu un view superb.

10. Take time to admire the sunset. Lyon is also called the city of lights. It is because of a particular red light that covers the town in the afternoon. I have to admit that the sky turns into something magical at sunset, one of the most beautiful skies I've ever seen. I'll just leave you with the picture.

Lasati-va timp pentru a admira apusul. Lyon este supranumit orasul luminilor, asta datorita unei lumini rosii ce acopera orasul dupamasa. Trebuie sa recunosc ca cerul se transforma in ceva magic, unu din cele mai frumoase apusuri pe care le-am vazut. Va las doar fotografia.

11. Taste the French desserts. There are some things so good you shoudn't miss: the macarons, the icecream and the tarts. 

Gustati deserturile franceze. Sunt cateva lucruri atat de bune incat ar fi bine sa nu le ratati: macarons, inghetata si tartele.