OFII Appointment and Lyon with Friends!

After a very long day yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, and the day before that, I was very happy to sleep in my own bed last night (well, the one I have in France), and get real sleep. But of course, because I was nervous about my immigration appointment (doctor's appointment included in order to be signed off that I'm healthy enough to stay here), I got up a little tooo early... so I'm welcoming sleep again:)

Anyway, we got up and out of the apartment by 11am so I could show off the Saint-Priest castle, take the tram into Lyon, and point Maggie, Thomas, and Heather in the direction of the office of Tourism. I got to my appointment.... about an hour early, hoping I'd be able to scoot in a little early, but of course they were closed for lunch from 12-1:30. Why didn't I guess they'd be off for their long lunch break???

I went to grab a bite to eat (mozzarella panini), and waited in line with 50 other people who must have also been given a 1:30 appointment time (well, 13h30). Miraculously, and with the help of another English assistant, we went straight upstairs (as opposed to meeting the receptionist) and were first in line. I was in and out in under an hour! On the downside, although I was given my OFII stamp (office of Immigration and Integration), they notified me that I'd need to renew my visa and stamp come January as my visa extends only until Jan. 2011. I just assumed that was something everyone had to do, but after asking Lindsey about her visa, of course she tells me hers extends until Sept. 2011. So now I'm all freaked out that the French consulate in DC screwed up my visa and put the wrong dates on it.... and I stupidly just went along with it without checking before I left! Oh well, tant pis.... for now.

I found mes amis at the office of tourism and helped them find a place to eat. Then we were off on a grand tour of Lyon (my father, the tour guide extraordinaire, would have been proud!). I showed them Saint-Nizier (the cathedral built throughout the 14th-16th centuries), Place des Terraux and my favorite horse fountain, Hotel de Ville, the Soane river bridges with views of Croix-Rousse, crossed over to Vieux Lyon to see St. Jean (which unfortunately is all covered up by scaffolding at the moment, but we did go inside), up the funiculaire to Fourviere hill, went inside the Basilica, came back down the funicular, onto the metro, to the tram, and to a grocery store to buy a few things for our French feast (well... sort of... wine, cheese, and baguettes were involved).

Tomorrow, the plan is to get up earlish to go to Annecy (near Chambery in the Alps). I'm very excited. This place looks beautiful! Like Chambery, but with a lake! Then, Friday, we are touring Lyon some more, and Saturday we're back up to Paris! Busy, busy, busy!!!

Here are a few pictures from our day. The weather has been very pleasant, as you can tell! Upper 50's and SUNSHINE! I still haven't posted pictures from Paris, so I guess I'll just have to do one long post when I get back on Sunday night from both days in Paris:)

Reste cool:)