Toulouse Last Day

 Our last full day in Toulouse. On our list today are a few places we haven't visited yet. It is crazy windy out, when the wind blows here it really blows, and it is also cold.

Started of by visiting 2 markets. The one just around the corner from our place, The Carmes Market. Then we walked over to the Victor Hugo market which is more in the center of town.  Andre put the market pictures on a separate blog.

One thing on our list is to visit Toulouse Cathedral, or Saint Etienne Cathedral also known as St Stephen's Cathedral. Depends of you are searching in French or in English for it.  What is a day in Europe without at least one church visit! It is from the 3^rd century and gone through lots of transformations since then.

Next was Andre wanted to see the boats at the canal, we had walked along the canal earlier in the week but there were no boats, today we are off to see boats. Well, that lasted about 1 minute, it was so extremely windy it was nearly scary walking along the canals. Saw a couple of people on bikes, that was borderline dangerous. 

 The parks we wanted to visit were right around the corner, arrived there and all the gates were locked. There are many different entrances but all locked with a sign something about police. Oh well off we go walking some more. Ended up at tourist information square again and I went in to see if it was high alert for terrorism or why the parks were locked, turns out it was the wind. Just not safe with all the trees, yes it was that windy! On our walking tour the first day we heard about James Colomina and 3 red statues he had placed around the city and one of his statues was in a park we wanted to visit, so that didn't happen but we did get a picture from a long distance.

Tourist information told us about a shopping center we could go to the top floor for a good view of the city, something we had totally forgotten about. So we are off to the 6^th floor of the Gallery Lafayette. There is a bar/restaurant up top, we had no problem getting an outdoor seat, it was so windy, cold and a little spit of rain. We each had Pastis, anisette liquor that you add water.

Back home quickly to try to beat the rain. Stop to pick up some Madeleines cakes to bring to Quebec for a treat when we see everyone tomorrow. Make it back to the apartment just in time as the rain really starts. Luckily we have picked up gnocchi and sauce for supper at the little Italian shop around the corner for supper, would not have been nice to head out tonight.

Steps 16,600 or 10.5 km

A mixed bags of pictures from todays walks.

The place where we got pasta to cook at home

The walking street have more people on them, Saturday

One of the many small places to eat 2 or 3 blocks from our place. All types of cuisines

Fancy entrance

Now a museum, used to be someone's house

Did not see many flowers on balconies

They tempted me but I resisted

At the Place Capitole. Old photo exhibit.  This one was of the square as a parking lot.  Now it 25% restaurants plus vendors setup during the day in the rest but still lots of free space

  

A small locale market setup at Chales de Gaulle square

More architecture

We found the other 2 by the same artist

The trees lost lots of the blossoms because of the wind

St Stephen's Cathedral

On the walk to Canal du midi

We did use it

Too windy, we headed to the park instead

All the parks were closed due to high wind

The 3rd statues from a distance

Connecting bridge between parks

On the way home outside a museum

I took their pictures and sent it to them.  Maybe a wedding later?

Where we stop for gourmet pastries

The cups are so small, Wendy made 2 cups of tea at once to have with her pastries

Out for one last vacation walk before supper

Part of the building courtyard

Old wooden staircase that we had to use

The cafe du Matin at the end of our street is busy all day

A lot of other places as well

Always fun, beer must be cheap

Information told us about the bar on the 6th floor at The Gallery Lafayette

The top of the Dungeon Tower that was never a Dungeon

Having Pastis.  Anisette liquor that you add water

The Dungeon Tower

Stopped to get Madeline's to take to Quebec tomorrow

The view from our living room window

The market is on the right of the cafe du Matin that you can see