Lyon is the 2nd largest city in France. Lyon was previously known as Lugdunum (meaning "the hill of light" or "the hill of crows") and it began under the Romans, in the first century B.C. when the city was proclaimed capital of the three Gauls. It remained the capital for three centuries until the fall of the Roman Empire. By the end of the 15th century, Lyon was an important center of trade with its fairs and a well-developed banking system which attracted commercial interests from all over Europe. Soon, the social, intellectual and artistic elite settled here. Development continued through the 17th and 18th centuries with the Lyon silk industry dressing the rich the world over and decorating their interiors. The city continued to gain in size and equipped itself with hospitals, public squares and impressive edifices. The French Revolution in 1789 brought a brutal halt to expansion but development was re-vitalized under the Napoleonic empire. Today, Lyon is an international center of commerce. Adapted from:
http://www.world66.com/europe/france/alpes/lyon/history
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Before the trip
Now that Christmas and New Year's is behind me, I am preparing for an exciting trip to a research symposium at the University of Lyon. I have been doing some preliminary research on the city of Lyon as well as Paris, where I plan to spend a day or two.
A lot of preparation goes into traveling abroad. My passport was expired, and I was fortunate to get one expedited to me in seven days. My iphone with AT&T has a special package for texting and reduced price international minutes. Delta airlines, the carrier, allows one suitcase with a 50 pound limit. I have a small roller bag carry on, and plan to pack a duffel bag to check on the return with shopping items and souvenirs. The 2nd bag will cost $50.00.
For Christmas, I received electric adapters for charging my phone and ipad. I am still deciding whether or not to take my laptop. AAA travel agency has nifty rechargeable travel money cards that protect your personal account and provide credit card protections for a one time charge of $4.95.
A lot of preparation goes into traveling abroad. My passport was expired, and I was fortunate to get one expedited to me in seven days. My iphone with AT&T has a special package for texting and reduced price international minutes. Delta airlines, the carrier, allows one suitcase with a 50 pound limit. I have a small roller bag carry on, and plan to pack a duffel bag to check on the return with shopping items and souvenirs. The 2nd bag will cost $50.00.
For Christmas, I received electric adapters for charging my phone and ipad. I am still deciding whether or not to take my laptop. AAA travel agency has nifty rechargeable travel money cards that protect your personal account and provide credit card protections for a one time charge of $4.95.
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