So Toulouse beats out Bordeaux because: a) it's got a laid back student-town kind of charm and bustle; b) our french classes are right in the centre in an old converted church; and c) this city seems to love markets as much as I do. I mean all sorts of markets. On our way to the botanical gardens in Toulouse (yes, I wanted to see another botanical garden), we came upon a crazy antiques roadshow type flea market. The contents at this market looked like it had been looted from old churches, castles and fancy peoples' homes. We found out that this market takes place on one weekend each month; the stalls were full of fancy old furniture, french linens, silverware and chandeliers. Can't wait to sink my ailing canadian funds into some great furniture here - pending an unfurnished apartment.
We also woke up to another market on the street surrounding the church outside our hotel. This one was slightly less cool, and had stalls of a lot of cheap imported stuff. I can stock up for those of you who want euro-style man skivvies at 2euros a piece. And of course the food markets. I'm unable to write about them. It's an emotional and stimulation overload. Just recalling the sights and smells incapacitates my ability to linguistically organize the experience. Will try and post pictures instead.
Love Toulouse.
Basilique St. Sernin - taken two steps outside of our hotel.
We had lunch outside at "de jardin chez nous" - each had a quiche and salad, as the other specials of the day were being crossed off the chalkboard. Restaurants in Toulouse are all about lunch, and many of them close at four. We sat next to some ladies visiting from Biarritz and had a nice chat with them. Flustered at having french people pay attention to us, I panicked and ordered the pistache framboise...instead of the chocolate gateau I had in mind.
...but that wasn't so bad now was it? In fact it was SO good!
Little swings in the park at the botanical garden. They were like jellybean boat swings. Whoever designed this was thinking about the children.
1 comment:
i LO-OVE jelly beans! *blush*
(Mariette had assorted jelly bellys at her house in a ziploc bag that her little nephew gave her. . . I had to stop myself from eating the whole bag).
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