We made a trip (resp. some trips) to Toulouse from Carcassonne. It’s quite easy: take a SNCF train to cover the distance of about 100 km within 42 min. So you are transferred from downtown Carcassonne (i. e. La Bastide) to downtown Toulouse.
One of the striking features of Toulouse is La Garonne flowing mightily, but smooth like a mirror straight through the city. Some impressive bridges control the traffic e. g. the Pont Neuf (built in the 16th/17th century – see above) and the Pont Saint-Pierre (see below).
Our last visit to Toulouse led to a walk from the main station to the water’s edge of La Garonne, where the Pont Saint-Pierre crosses the river. We strolled along the river until Pont Neuf, crossed La Garonne via Pont Neuf and strolled back to Pont Saint-Pierre, crossed again the water … It was a nice walk w/ a brilliant blue sky & a warm sun.
However, before starting w/ a resume of Toulouse: what about salad days?
When we are making a trip whatever we mostly have a light & late lunch … So when coming home we are hungry, but we don’t like to do any cooking … So we have a salad day w/ some cold cuts, some cheese & lost of French bread.
Salad – at the moment – is a quick & easy affair:
- start w/ some mixed salad leaves – if necessary rinse them, sort them out & spin them
(about 150 – 200 g for 2 people) - grab a bowl & add some olive oil, some balsamic vinegar & French sweet mustard & mix vigorously until creamy
(it’s 4 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar & 1 tsp French sweet mustard) - fold in & mix …
- enjoy!
This is the basis.
Sometimes I add some thinly sliced radishes or cherry tomatoes or cucumber … sometimes I add some tuna (out of a can) or hard-boiled eggs or thinly sliced ham or grated comté or grated parmesan … There are quite a lot of possibilities – even if you haven’t a large fridge or a large pantry.
Now – coming back to Toulouse!
There is this majestic main station dating back to 1905. Inside despite the vast front it’s always crowded – travelers swarming here & there & everywhere.
Of course we paid our visits to the main churches: the Basilica of Saint-Sernin (12th century) & the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne (13th century).
… & of course there are much more churches from all the following centuries …
We had coffee breaks on the Place de Capitole, a vast space, encircled by cafés, bistros, brasseries, restaurants …
The place is used for markets.
On the left there is a part of the Capitolium building w/ its great decoration on the roof. It’s a city hall & theatre resp. concert hall & opera house.
Toulouse is a city for walking, strolling, admiring the long streets w/ their magnificent buildings – all these windows and the elaborated balconies.
… & it’s an area for shopping sprees!
… & here and there you’ll find small parcs & fountains where you may relax for a while (if you are able to get a free chair or bench – it’s quite popular to sit in the sun, have lunch (or whatever) & enjoy the sun …).
Of course there is much more in Toulouse – not only concerning the history & its remaining monuments & buildings, but also modern aerospace technology is a brand mark of the city. I read about a museum on aerospace technology … & I’m keen to visit it. Until now we didn’t make it, but soon …
