2006 European Trip

In November, I had the opportunity to visit Europe on a business trip with a colleague. We took the corporate jet to Stuttgart, Germany. We arrived 6am local time. We rented a car and were on our way. After a few minor snags, we were heading westbound on Autobahn A8. A8 was very congested with cars and semi trucks. It was stop and go for about 15 minutes and then things opened up to 120km/hr posted. A few miles later, the limits were lifted and sublight travel was over. It's 1:30 am Michigan time, but cars whizzing by you at more than twice your speed will sure keep you awake with adrenaline. The right lane was clogged with truck traffic, but you couldn't let impatience get the best of you, lest those tiny headlights you saw in your mirror a moment ago suddenly appear as a car right behind you. After two hours, we stopped in Frieburg im Breslau to see the old midevial town square and church. We got back on the road and in half an hour, we had crossed the Rhine into France. There is no border stop when crossing within the European Union. We stopped at a rest stop on the French Autoroute. It’s a gas-station and a quickie-mart as you would find on any US highway plus a picnic area. Another three hours and we were in Chalon-sur-Saône. Not much noteworthy about Chalon-sur-Saône except that it is the birthplace of photography. The next morning, we jumped onto Autoroute A6 south into Limonest. We were graciously hosted by the French company we were meeting at. When we were done with business (by 6pm), we drove south on the Autoroute, exiting at Vieux Lyon at the west bank of the Saône. We drove down the crowded street and then found a winding road up the Fourvière hill. Near the top, we parked and walked several hundred meters to the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière. The church was beautifully illuminated. From the front of the church there was a breathtaking view of the Saône river as it winds its way through Lyon.