Lyon July 9th - picnic at the venue?

[martisan]

hello folks,
As the sweet memories of Manchester linger, I look forward already to Lyon.
The venue is a particularly special one, a 2000 year old amphitheatre overlooking this beautiful city.
Given that it is free seating, I imagine some forum members turning up early to queue for good seats. Perhaps we could have a picnic together?
I've tried to contact the venue - they are not answering the phones this morning, to see what the possibilities are...where can we hang out while we wait. Is there somewhere shady? Are we going to just be standing on the street? (not really possible to all day in french summer, we'd get more of a sunstroke than a concert... )
anyway let me know if you're interested, and I'll let you know when I hear more from the Fourvieres people.
Martin

[Chubi]

Hello Martin,
I like your idea... and I also remember that the street is not shady. Waiting there in the heat would be problematic... unless we can take turns? There are two parks not far away, one below the basilica, very steep, and the other one a bit further up, "Le parc des hauteurs", which is relatively new, and suitable for picnics I'm told. Hopefully the people from the festival will give you helpful information.
Regarding the concert itself, I've checked the festival website and found at least two bits of information that I think are important:
- should it rain, have a hooded raincoat with you as umbrellas are not authorised;
- cameras are not authorised either: they will be kept in some "consigne" (locker space?) - for free if I remember well - and returned when you leave.
Another bit of information for those who would like to eat close to the venue but at a restaurant: there is a restaurant (lunch starting at €14) next to the basilica (on its right when you look towards the city), with a greaaaat view on the city, provided you reserved one of the best tables early enough (inside the restaurant or on the terrace).

[martisan]

HI Chubi, and others.
So I spoke to the Fourvieres people - who were extrememly helpful I must say, calling me back at home when I left a message, to give me as much information as they were able.

The grounds are open until 90 mins before the doors open for the festival, so we could meet, hang out, picnic within the amphitheatre grounds. The restarant sounds great for lunch, thanks for the tip...

They said that even for concerts that have sold out quickly such as this one, they have never known people to arrive in the morning, so arriving pm should be fine.

I reckon arrive about 15h, and see what's going on. we could take turns being in the queue.
We could ask Jarkko to ask Leonard if we could put a plaque at the front of the queue marked "LC forum members" and then we could all go off to the park or bar til nearer the time...?

Conert begings at 21h30. Doors open at 20h00

Voilà. only 17 days to go...
Martin

[Chubi]

I reckon arrive about 15h, and see what's going on. we could take turns being in the queue.
We could ask Jarkko to ask Leonard if we could put a plaque at the front of the queue marked "LC forum members" and then we could all go off to the park or bar til nearer the time...?

Conert begings at 21h30. Doors open at 20h00

Voilà. only 17 days to go...
Martin

Thank you for having checked. That's good news about the grounds being opened in the afternoon, I didn't think they would. I do believe when they say that people don't start queuing up very early, especially on days like today: I just heard that today's temperature in Lyon should reach 37°C...

[martisan]

Hey Chubi,
are you and I the only ones going to Lyon?
Hello folks - its just two weeks away. Anone else going to be in Lyon for the most beautiful venue of this whole tour?

[mnkyface]

I'll be at the Lyon concert with my husband and young daughter...I'll stand in line in the later part of the day while they see the city. Hope it's not too hot!!! (for Leonard and band's sake as well!) I do hope to meet some of you but as of tonight we'll be offline (on vacation in Germany and Paris) until we go to Lyon.

Esther

[linmag]

John and I will be at the Lyon concert, too, but I'm not sure what time we will be arriving. We will be driving up from our holiday home in the Aude, which we think should take about 3 hrs, so might be there in time for lunch. What's the name of the restaurant with the view? I'll keep an eye on this thread, but only until Friday next week, when we head off to France. A picnic at the venue sounds good too.

[martisan]

Hi Linmag,
I'll be driving from the Aude too. Its a journey I've done many times, and its more like 4 hours from Carcassonne.

Maybe to see you in the Park during the afternoon.

The restaurant that Chubi mentioned was the restaurant Fourvieres:
http://www.fourviere.org/restaurant.php
Lyon is a wonderful city, hope to see you at the concert.

How to recognize us? I'll be looking ecstatic and my wife will be looking ambivalent, waiting to be convinced of what all my LC devotion is all about...

[swisschris]

Hi y'all!
I will be travelling from Zurich to Lyon for Leonard's concert. Unfortunately, I don't know yet when I will arrive, I think sometime late afternoon.
For those of you worried to have to queue in the heat: I was curious and checked different French weather websites to see what the weather forecast for Lyon for next Wednesday will be like...I don't want to spoil anyone's day but they all predicted heavy rain-showers and with 16 degrees celsius quite cold temperatures Let's just all hope that the bad weather will make a U-turn and that it won't rain during Leonard's concert. Otherwise, warm clothes and several raincoats will be handy

[martisan]

The weeklong forecast here says 24 degrees, sunny with light cloud. This wednesday - yesterday - was stormy and rainy. maybe you mixed up wednesdays Chris?

[linmag]

Thanks for the warning about the journey time, Martisan, though I expect we will be setting off soon after breakfast anyway. How to recognise us? Reverse the description of you and your wife, and you have me and my husband

How to recognise us #2. I will be wearing (weather permitting) a rainbow-coloured crocheted sunhat, somewhat faded since I first bought it on Hydra three years ago, decorated with assorted pins and badges relating to LC.

Hope to see you there.

[martisan]

er, sounds like I can't miss you.
No such distinguishing headwear for me I'm afraid, but you sound unmissable in the rainbow hat and badges. I'll look out for you...

Martin

[martisan]

Is Lyon the least anticipated of all Leonard's concerts? It is 2 days until Lyon, a concert in an absolutely stunning setting in a 2000 year old roman theatre overlooking the beautiful city of Lyon, and until now there have been half a dozen posts from about 4 people!

Hello?

Manchester was absolutely sublime - I was there on the wednesday night when we were treated to Famous Blue Raincoat - but I have always been looking forward more to the Lyon concert...

Now i am a little worried. The venue is wonderful, but it is Leonard's lovers, the cohen devotees, the signed up swooning members of the order of the unified heart, the hallelujah chorus, the mad romantic wildheart few, that really make the atmosphere. Those who have waited for years for this wonderful tour. Where are you? I do hope some of you will be in Lyon on Wednesday.

Sincerely,
Martin

[swisschris]

I will be there of course
And I am glad that the weather DID make the U-Turn and that the newest and most accurate forecast tells that it will be sunny and 27 degrees hot! So it will be an absolutely fantastic evening, that's for sure!
I have just come back from Montreux Jazz Festival, having seen k.d.lang and Joan Baez in one fantastic evening. k.d.lang singing Hallelujah was something, I can tell you. The whole audience was standing in awe and lots of them tearing up (me included..)
So see you in Lyon!