Destination: Toulouse, France (2018 Edition– Part 2)

Following my visit to the musée des Augustins, I continued to explore the rest of Toulouse during my first day in town after the New Year. It was sometime in the late afternoon by then, and I wanted to stay in the center until the sun set to capture the gorgeous views of the pont Neuf and the Capitole lit up; it wouldn’t get dark until half past 17:00, so with that, I wandered around town in the meantime.

I made a visit to the Galeries Lafayette near the Capitole— mind you, I’m not a huge shopper by any means, but my actual reason was to get views of the city from the sixth floor. When I’d last visited Toulouse almost two years ago, my Couchsurfing host then had recommended me that spot, although we couldn’t get to it since the store had closed for the night– this time, I was set on seeing what it was all about.

Taking the elevator ride up, I made it to the top floor, where there was a fancy-looking restaurant from which you can get views from the terrace. I was in no mood to dine, and I felt awkward entering the restaurant without buying anything– luckily, there was a bathroom just adjacent to the restaurant with large windows that had lovely views, so I ducked in there instead to capture the rooftop views (and to use the toilets, of course!). Interesting place to take photos, but wonderful photos all the same.

Making my descent, I soon left the Galeries Lafayette and continued wandering around the city center, eventually ducking into a coffee shop to rest and wait until sunset. I ordered an average chai latte and relaxed for about 45 minutes to an hour before picking myself up and headed to the pont Neuf at a leisurely pace. The sun was just about setting when I arrived, and I proceeded to capture the illuminated beauty of the simple, but sturdy bridge against the backdrop of the Garonne river. People– youth and the elderly alike– were relaxing along the quay– the atmosphere was lively as they chatted, played bad rap music (the youths, no less), and drank in the last rays of the sun (and alcohol, evidently). Crazy to believe that the ambiance could be as lively as on a random, January day!

I headed to the Capitole, which was lit up in gold and purple, giving off a regal, but familiar glow. More photos were taken, and soon enough, I made my way back to my friend’s home for the evening. Although the wait did take a while, it was well-worth it for the lovely, tranquil beauty of the “ville Rose.”

The next couple of days were spent making day trips to nearby towns, Carcassonne and Albi. However, they were only for half a day each, so upon returning to Toulouse, I continued to explore the city center a bit more, including a visit to the Chapelle des Carmélites, which was a small, seemingly unassuming chapel that absolutely took my breath away. From wall to ceiling, the interior was covered in an ornate fresco painting of god and the heavens– although it looked as if it hadn’t been restored in a while (i.e. paint seemed rather faded), I could still see that it has retained its beauty even after over three hundred years.

Along with the chapel, I also made my dutiful rounds to the Couvent des Jacobins, whose interior still captures my love (and my camera), as well as the hôtel d’Assézat, a 16th-century private mansion which houses the artwork that’d been collected by French-Argentinian patron Georges Bemberg during the late 20th century. Just like with my previous visit, I didn’t see the museum itself, but rather just took a photo of the captivating courtyard. Really, the hôtel d’Assézat is a *slightly-hidden* gem that’s worth popping in for its architecture!

On my final day in Toulouse, it happened to be a sunny, blue-sky kind of day. On my way to the bus stop where I would be taking my ride back to the Lyon region, I strolled along the Canal du Midi, a picturesque canal whose waters flow throughout the southwest of France until exiting into the Mediterranean Sea. Even in January, the canal never looked so charming and alive.

I admit, Toulouse captured my heart this past visit– admittedly, I hadn’t been very charmed by the city the first time I went, but now, having stayed a bit longer and having already seen the main, touristy sites, Toulouse has become one of my favorite cities in France, and it’s one which I would choose to visit again and again. My time spent with my friend whom I hadn’t seen in almost two years was a wonderful reunion, and interacting with the locals, i.e. the “Toulousains,” was great, as the second visit reaffirmed that they’re definitely one of the kindest French in all of the country. The atmosphere is both laid-back and lively, as it’s situated in the warm(er) Southwest region and home to the largest student population in France. I was a bit sad to leave this time around, but I definitely plan to return soon, whenever that may be.

There are still adventures to write about my day trips from Toulouse. Coming up: Carcassonne, France!

 

— Rebecca