France

TOULOUSE

Arriving in Toulouse after the sun had sunk bellow the horizon, I decided to use my GPS to find my hotel as quickly as possible. After checking in and dropping off my stuff I decided to check out the city. My GPS let me get an idea of the city’s layout, and since I was only in the city for one night I decided to run to the city centre and check out something straight away. As I walked towards the city centre, the city’s was just coming alive with people going out for food or drinks. Stumbling across and outdoor concert, I enjoyed a glass of wine while listening to some reggae, and started to get a feel for the city. Leaving before the next band, I decided to walk towards the river and search for food. A quick falafel, some cheese and a wee beer and I was ready to continue. Picking up a couple of beers for in the hotel, I randomly walked around the city taking in the sights, before coming across a bar which boasted it had “Over 50 beers”. Unfortunately what I had discovered was actually a sports bar, filled with English tourists watching football on the large screens and drinking Newcastle Brown Ale. A quick drink and I decided to move on. Returning to the outdoor concert, I caught a indie style band, had another couple of wines and then decided to turn in for the night. Waking up early the next morning I left the hotel to explore the silent city. Taking a mental note as I was passing a small, closed café, I headed towards the river to take in the cities sights. Watching the sunrise over the River Garonne, I then decided to look for breakfast. The only places that appeared to be open were large chain cafes and fast food restaurants. I decided to head back to the hotel keeping my eyes open for a breakfast spot, with the back-up plan of having breakfast at the hotel, I made my way in the general direction of the café I passed earlier. When I got there, the café was open. The old lady behind the counter couldn’t speak a word of English, the customers all went about their daily life, I smiled, sipped my esspreso and ate my croissant and absorbed the atmosphere.

CARCASSONNE

The train from Toulouse to Carcassonne was much quicker than I expected. Arriving in the town, I realised that my hotel was quite a bit out of the town (I selected it because it was near the airport). Walking to my hotel, I took in little bit of the town. Stopping at a supermarket to find some food and water as the heat of the sun was draining my energy, I was able to find out there was a bus that went near my hotel from outside the supermarket. After checking in, I decided to head back to the town to find dinner. Unfortunately I managed to miss the last bus back into town so had to walk it. Entering the old town through a gap in the old wall, I noticed how narrow the streets were. I decided to walk around, looking for food and beer. Passing a small pub, outside of which there were two old men playing chess, inside there was a young man playing guitar and singing what sounded like a French folk song, the bar man outside smoking, sipping a drink and talking to a man in a beret (at this point I didn’t know this was the bar man), I decided to continue up the street to get a quick meal of a cheese and salad baguette and some fries before heading back to the pub I passed. By the time I returned the guitarist had finished playing, however the sound system had French folk style music playing. A few beers later and a discussion about Brel with the bar man and one of the regulars, I decided to find another place to drink. A couple of hipster bars later I returned to the hotel for a beer and to pack for my flight.