That’s one of the reasons we made plans to stop there. Most everyone commented that Americans don’t visit. When they heard us speak English, assumption was British upbringing. So here we gooooooooooooo!
It was time to leave Bordeaux and once again, we’re going via train. Love the mass transit in Europe.
We’re staying at another AirBNB on the top floor, but this one has a (small) lift. The kitchen was well-appointed and the living space had plenty of room. Adrienne took the circular staircase to her loft bedroom. Eric was done with stairs if he could help it. And also, the suitcases would have to be brought up. 😦
First order of business was LUNCH. While not our original choice, this Italian restaurant had excellent options and was a nice change of pace.
You’ll never guess who ordered the duck lasagna? Me! I decided to jump in with both feet and truly try something different. It was very tasty. Adrienne enjoyed her salmon ravioli and Eric tolerated his 4 cheese pasta.
For our first night in Toulouse we had dinner reservations in a location near one of their historic churches. Walking there we continued to find monuments and landmarks. One of the first was this WW I tribute.
Down the street we spied this monument and walked to check it out.
It was a tribute to the brave men that took and held Egypt for Napoleon.
We finally got to Cathedral St. Etienne which was the intended destination.
Like a lot of things, there was ongoing construction and resoration. I tried to get a short without the orange construction fence, but just couldn’t.
The entrance doorway is always fascinating. It’s meant to be imposing and this one hits the mark
Imagine our surprise upon walking inside and a wedding was taking place.
The ceremony was almost over and we saw them walk down the aisle and be greeted outside as man & wife.
There was a huge plus………..we got to hear the church’s organ. And now, so do you.
There was a gentleman playing the organ and after the newly wed couple walked out, we were treated to several more minutes of playing.
I don’t want to be jaded, but visiting all of these churches, their beauty was starting to dull my senses. This was an odd mix of proportions and architectural styles. Renaissance tapestries sit along stained glass windows.
I read that it seems like there are two different churches in one building. Same church, different doorway around the corner from my first shot. The cathedral was built over 500 years and plans reconfigured several times and ultimately smaller than the original plan.
Two shots from inside this doorway and it was a different feel. The stained glass was the oldest in Toulouse, dating back to the 1200s.
Across the street was our restaurant that evening.
Their offerings were a little ‘more’. More interesting, more daring and more creative. First up hummus. Definitely a change from our most recent starter selections. Sorry for the blurry photo. We were hungry and I’m surprised I didn’t get a few fingers in my shot.
We made interesting choices. Adrienne had veal with mixed veggies topped with shaved parmeshan.
Eric chose the XXXXXX. Loved the edible flower (pansy) that complemented the sweet potato puree.
I had a hard time selecting. The waiter mentioned a special with beef and I said yes. Still not truly sure what I got, but the meat was cured – not cooked. Something got lost in the transation. The veggies were pickled and was a nice foil against the thinly sliced meat.
Desserts – fabulous and interesting presentation. Desserts came in a jar with a lid. Our choices had a biscuit (cookie) near the bottom, with creamy goodness layered with tangy fruit.
This was a winner in Adrienne and Eric’s book, a little lower for me. To be honest, perusing the menu was a little harder for my selections – but I’m still smilng at the end.
Enjoyed the first night in Toulouse. More exciting things are coming.
Darden Travels 