Toulouse

We are here as tourists, at last, although this is not really a tourist city. It is a vibrant, heavily used city, the home of Airbus. There is prosperity even in the ethnic area near the train station where we are staying. 

Our first day here was a Saturday and the crowds made me think there was a festival happening, but no, it was just Saturday. A caravan of cars celebrating a wedding drove by with everyone honking and the pedestrians cheering at the bride and groom in the first car. And this went on for a long time because the roads were clogged with pedestrians partying because it was Saturday. 

We did the town on foot, but did not go inside the museums. Truthfully, I tire of attempting to read French museum signage. 

We did see the very elaborate gardens, the river and canal, and the exteriors of the churches and museums. The highlight for me was Les Halles Victor Hugo on a Sunday. This is an extraordinary market and I marvel at the patrons at one end eating oysters and drinking wine, and at the other sipping other alcoholic drinks (remember, Sunday morning). In between were miles of food, fish and shellfish, bread, pates, duck fat, and so on, each booth flowing with abundance.

I did end up taking a light meal, fish, in one of the second floor restaurants, something I had to do. Next time, I will avoid the Lonely Planet recommendation ...I was seated next to three American men, I think professors at George Mason, who were pontificating about addiction...a topic I fear they knew nothing about. 

Public restroom, waiting for clean cycle so I can go in

Inside the public restroom


Wild mushrooms at a street market

Fish display at Les Halles Victor Hugo