Un voyage rapide Franglais

[ChrisMars]

Marseille! Great view on the Notre Dame de la Garde from your hotel!

If you like fish soup you need to find a good restaurant serving the "bouillabaisse", local specialty.

 

[andye]

Sadly, no time for bouillabaisse @ChrisMars as I have an early morning train to Lyon.
Love air travel as I do, the advantages of no long check-ins and origins/destinations close to the city centre, are good things to be said for rail travel
Short taxi trip to station


Booked my allocated premiere class seat last week on https://www.sncf-connect.com/en-en/. Access the gate using the QR code on the ticket


The bar

Quite misty at times on this trip but do get to see some countryside too

 

[andye]

Gare Lyon Part Dieu is very busy during morning peak but picked up taxi quickly
The Intercontinental Lyon is another handsome hotel on the bank of the Rhône.

Just time to drop off bags in room

and off to the Conference. The Palais de Congrès is further up the river in a modern area called the Cite Internationale. There is a CP and Marriott (and casino) there but I prefer to stay in the bustle of the city

The conference was very well attended and started off with some really important trials which will definitely change practice

You might note that in an audience of medical specialists and scientists, fewer than 10% are wearing masks despite being suggested from the chair

 

[andye]

I came back to my room and something was bugging me. I had booked a Garden View but this didn't look like a garden.
Not quite a Hancockian car park but a courtyard at best

 

[andye]

I'm pretty sure what happened was that the (lovely) lady at reception had tried to find me an available room as I had checked in early.

I'm not naturally one to complain and to be honest the room was large and perfectly adequate for my needs.....but I had paid for a Garden View and was due at least one upgrade with both my FHR booking and as a Platinum Ambassador (let alone a downgrade).

I checked available rooms on IHG and there didn't seem to be any available.

Here there is a big shout out to Ayoula at reception who executed the service recovery one would hope for at this grade of hotel.

After checking rooms, he asked me what I would like to drink and directed me to the bar with a chit for a complimentary G&T assuring me he would sort out the problem.

The Dome bar is spectacular with a its eponymous ceiling and a busy chattering vibe.

Enjoyed the G&T (and an Ambassador complimentary Crozes-Hermitage)

And as I was hoping would happen, was rewarded with a 2-storey Riverview suite




Shame I couldnt teleport mrsandye from her 'challenging' ED nightshift to a more opulent environment but-
Bravo Intercontinental!

 

[Anna]

I'm enjoying this TR, at least when I can quell my jealousy

 

[Pushka]

Gare Lyon Part Dieu is very busy during morning peak but picked up taxi quickly
The Intercontinental Lyon is another handsome hotel on the bank of the Rhône.
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Just time to drop off bags in room
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and off to the Conference. The Palais de Congrès is further up the river in a modern area called the Cite Internationale. There is a CP and Marriott (and casino) there but I prefer to stay in the bustle of the city
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The conference was very well attended and started off with some really important trials which will definitely change practice
View attachment 276007
You might note that in an audience of medical specialists and scientists, fewer than 10% are wearing masks despite being suggested from the chair

A new game to replace Wheres Wally. Called, Spot the mask. I can see 12.

That upgrade looks wonderful. Shame about having to work.

 

[andye]

The Hotel Dieu was for many years a hospital caring for the sick of Lyon. In the 16th century the humanist Rabelais was its director. The building is now on the World Heritage List

The Intercontinental occupies the largest part of the building and opened only relatively recently. The concierge in Marseille told me they are sister hotels as both started out as hospitals and they had been involved in training.

The rest of the building has some shopping and several cafes and restaurants

 

[andye]

Breakfast (included with FHR) is in the Epona restaurant, which seems highly regarded for its lunch and dinner service.
Brekky not over spectacular for a 5* hotel and its not my style of bacon but friendly service and tasted good.

There is a Club Lounge on the 3rd floor but I wasnt eligible on my rate

 

[andye]

Didn't have much time for sightseeing but this is the Opera House

And the Place Bellecour, just behind the hotel. Quite empty-maybe designed in anticipation of some commemorations of great French military victories

There is a Winston Churchill Bridge. Interestingly, he was one of the biggest opponents of Operation Dragoon-the offensive that accelerated the liberation of Southern France

The Rhone

And lunchtime boules

Et pour les geologistes de AFF

 

[andye]

Not too hungry but did have a rather splendid pate en croute with a Macon-Lugny Chardonnay

 

[andye]

Checked out from the hotel-the lady who booked me in didn't behave as though she had got into trouble over the room.

Another good morning at the conference. Particularly good session on psychosomatic presentations to hospital.

Some pics from my lunchtime wander
Interpol HQ

And the gates of the Parc de Tete d'Or



Before stopping of for lunch
A salad au M. Perry with a Marsanne-Rousanne

Followed by braised pork loin with an AOC St Joseph Syrah

 

[andye]

Conference finished with some interesting trials. Quick taxi to Gare Lyon Part Dieu which is a bit of a scrum (though to be expected at 1730 on a Friday). The only time this trip when I felt it wise to move my wallet to a safer place.

Thought this might be my train but then noticed it's an Italian one

Platform announced late and mobs on that platform. Very glad there is electronic signage telling you the best part of the platform to board.

Again in premiere, on the upper deck, which is 3/4 full (unlike the rest of the train I imagine). The train is the only place in France where masks seem mandated(reminders by ticket officers too).

Charger at seat (didn't notice one from Marseille) and decent free WiFi (using now)

And I'm off to Paris

 

[andye]

And two hours later, j'arrive en Paris
That's my train

And the Gare De Lyon

Actually took me longer to exit the station than to reach the Hotel Camille (Tapestry Collection by Hilton)

Welcoming check-in, taxi for morning booked and up to the room (had booked base, presumably upgraded to City View with HHG)



Despite being on the main road, you can only hear the odd muffled car-horn

[I did canvass AFF opinion about this hotel as a short overnight stop arriving at GdL. It ended up one of the lonely unreplied threads but I guess that was because no-one could think of a much better option. I'm pretty happy with it anyway]

PS: Having passed the Holiday Inn just a few steps down the road, looks like it has more facilities including a pretty bar. Staff here are lovely though and HI was not available when I booked.
Also note shub for those with an aversion

 

[andye]

There is something exciting about disembarking and being in a new city. Area around GdL buzzing.

I had said I didn't need to see the sights but it has been nearly 20 years since I was in Paris so I jumped on the Metro to the Louvre and ticked off a bunch (apologies for photo quality-the light at dusk/night is not good)

 

[andye]

My feet were screaming so returned on the Metro for a nightcap. Masks are mandatory on the Metro with 95+% compliance. One couple took theirs off to kiss but nous sommes en Paris

 

[RooFlyer]

There is something exciting about disembarking and being in a new city. Area around GdL buzzing.

I had said I didn't need to see the sights but it has been nearly 20 years since I was in Paris so I jumped on the Metro to the Louvre and ticked off a bunch (apologies for photo quality-the light at dusk/night is not good)
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That’s exactly what I wrote in my Feb 20 TR when I went back to Paris after a long time. Too cool to be a tourist .

Nope. Went to the Louvre and with the lack of crowds, was about 5th in and had many galleries to myself. I think I put similar pics to you in that TR .

 

[andye]

Had to leave before breakfast which is in the area next to reception. I would just say that the staff here were great: not that I particularly needed them to do much, but had a welcoming manner that made me happy to see them

Taxi arrived before time and off to CDG. Traffic good at this time in the morning, under 30 minutes.

QR checkin moderately busy. I only needed to show passport and Digital Passenger Declaration.
AU passport holders can use egates. There was a sign afterward to get passport ready for stamp and to show proof of vax but latter not needed.
Security pretty quick too.
Terminal 2C is quite small and it's all a bit of a breeze

 

[SYD]

Terminal 2C is quite small and it's all a bit of a breeze

Oh! Not departing from T1. Awful as it is, but the QR premium lounge is a lovely sanctuary. I’ve arrived early a couple of times for the morning flight and had the place to myself.

 

[andye]

No such luck @SYD
QR lounge still closed-does look great from the pics I've seen. Only OW lounge in 2C available is AA
Pretty entrance

Not a huge lounge but plenty of space this morning

No champagne-only fizz available is a very ordinary Cremant de Limoux. Though true to AA, they do keep the vodka cold for Bloody Marys


Food is good particularly the tuna and spinach quiche and croque monsieur


But where this lounge scores well is the great apron view