Arrived in Toulouse
at 9:00 at night,
Good thing I got a
hotel across the street to the right.
I was skeptical
because so close to the train station,
But my room was
great, king-size memory foamed and tub – a vacation!
I only side-tracked
to Toulouse to see a friend -ten years
have passed with many letters between.
A strange friendship
indeed - a lingual and culture barrier
to be seen.
She speaks good
English, my French sucks –
I’ll go along for the
ride, with any luck.
Confusion to find my
hotel the next morning, but met on the street,
Immediately go off to
the Dr.’s office for X-ray on her feet.
Then to lunch in a
typical French café,
I had a salad and
salmon soufflé.
Stop at her pharmacy
to pick up her drugs,
She knows everyone
and greets them with hugs.
Off we go traveling
the country side in her car,
I had no idea we were
going so far.
I figured I had
better just sit back and trust,
Enjoy the French
countryside, if you must.
We drive through
villages, and she morns,
This is the house
where her father was born.
Stopped at a Castle by a Toulouse pastel merchant
commissioned in 1579,
That has passed through families and governments
over time.
The castle was designed
by a well-know architect, Bachelieur,
Loreaol Castel is known
as a key French Renaissance landmark so pure.
In the Spring and Summer
it’s used for music and art jubilees,
But in the w inter,
it was isolated and we just freeze!
Equipped in true
Renaissance haute,
It has a draw bridge,
river and a moat.
Into the car, Annie
said we must go,
For she has another
Dr. appointment for her toe!
To the next village,
we climb the stairs to the 2nd floor,
You walk directly
into the Dr.’s office when he opens the door.
Annie sat on the exam
table, while I sit next to them in the chair,
They chat freely
while he’s drilling on her toes…what a pair!
After her
appointment, we go to her cottage for tea,
Now I know why she
didn’t invite me!
Her pipes, they are
frozen, a bucket for the bidet,
No heat except the
fireplace and lots of boxes in the way!
Her main concern is a
school in Senegal, Africa she’s hosting,
Where she goes several
times a year to the posting.
It’s an admiral cause
and she shows me the photos of the land,
Of children, huts and
the tribes she gives a helping hand.
We drive the country
side up and down though the hills,
Stop at her son’s
home amongst the fields.
Completely unexpected, she tells me we are going to the Mall
It's a huge shopping center about 3 floors tall.
She shops for items for her upcoming trip, a point of focal,
And all I can say is that I am experiencing France like a local.
Back to my hotel, I
am dropped off
Go take a bath, for I’m
completely exhausted!
Websites: Chateau de
Lareole: chatequlareole@wanadoo.fr
Day Two
The next day Annie
said she’d meet me at 10:30 “jour,”
She arrives by train
and we begin the city tour,
Walking to the
Capital Square, Annie discuses the history,
Because of the color
of the stone, it is called the “Pink City.”
The Toulouse Town
Hall built in the 18th Century,
Housing elected
representatives to run the City.
Weddings, receptions,
symposiums and seminars
Now reside where
executions reined in the square.
The massive staircase
is adorned by art,
From artist Jean-Paul
Lauren and his son Paul-Albert.
The Salle Gervais was
originally the wedding hall,
Allegories of love
paintings by Paul Germais are on the wall.
Three painting
represent Love at 20, 40 and 60,
That embody grace,
innocence, faithfulness and purity.
The drawing room features
ten paintings by an impressionist Henri-Martin,
Adorning the walls
in life-size paintings.
The Town Council room
houses its’ 69 members,
With stucco work,
painting and sculptures that it renders.
We find from the tourism
office all museums are closed,
So off on a church tour
of the City we go!
The Taur church named
for St. Serin was dragged in the streets by a bull,
The Jacobins Convent
went thru the Dominican rule.
It is known for its
ribbed vaulted ceilings,
But locals know it
for the Inquisition killings.
The
Notre-Dame-de-la-Daurade Basilica is known for the black Virgin Mary,
Pregnant women come
here to get blessed for the babies they’re carrying.
Saint-Sernin Basilica
is one of the largest Romanesque churches in Europe,
Characterized by 11th
to 14th century of relics and décor.
A puzzle to visitors
is The Cathedral of Saint Etienne
For it was never
completed outside or in.
There are many levels
and chambers to the side,
Several crypts below
where the saints reside.
A restored organ
climbs the walls
Gothic stained glass windows
and tapestry are in the halls.
Walking the streets
of the old town, Croix-Baragon Street,
We find a crepes retaurant
for lunch to eat.
The beautiful house
fronts and luxury stores,
Built in brick and
adorned with elegant doors.
Of course there are artists wherever you go
And, some have it hanging out their windows for show.
We enter a store,
everything is completely blue,
It smells of
lavender, called “Graine de Pastel” Indigo hue.
The owner puts on a
video for me to watch
Shows how the plants
are grown and material dyed by the batch.
I bought a blue
pillow stuffed with lavender for sleep,
Small enough in my
luggage to keep.
We walk along La
Garonne river banks
To view the famous
walkways and the river barge planks.
Off to a coffee shop
to say our goodbye,
Invited me back in
the summer for France tour car ride.
Off she goes back to
Fabienne’s on a train tram,
To leave for visit to
New York City in the am.
She said that I have made her very happy for coming to see her,
With tears in her eyes, because friends are becoming fewer.
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