Toulouse, Brick City

How many of you have been to Toulouse? Raise your hands 🙌 I forgot to mention I was running 🏃‍♂️ to Toulouse on Thursday.

Every year Urban Sketchers France picks a city to meetup in - Voila Toulouse!

The 5+hr train trip (a change at Bordeaux) was elevated by a Bengal & Pomeranian encounter across the aisle. ‘Strangers on a train’

Enfin Toulouse ! 

The colors of Toulouse knock you sideways 

People call it ‘The Pink or Rose 🥀 City’

Really it’s ‘The Brick/briques 🧱City’ 

Famous for its use of chromatic brickwork 🧱 stone & plaster effects.

To warm up, I started off laying down loose washes of brick 🧱 colors

The Toulouse Office de Patrimoine generously gave us a bag of walking guides & maps 🗺️ 

There are 900 (!) Urban Sketchers visiting Toulouse, 

Taking classes, doing city sketchwalks etc.

Unfortunately, too much train sitting 🚊 plus the  stress of trip preparation & getting out the Strawberry 🍓 Paris letter  💌 brought on a mild case of sciatica 😱 

I spent a lot of time in my room (cell) simply painting.

Upon arrival I hated my hotel, Budget Ibis 😱 The rooms/cells are bare bones and all the same, so no chance of upgrade 😱

Plus I prepaid (never again) so no chance of canceling & going elsewhere😱 Leçon learned the hard way 😱

Why they say travel is such an adventure I guess 🤔

One mustn’t grumble to be in such a beautiful city

I went to the famous Marché Victor Hugo, the largest covered marché in France, but it closes at 13:30/1:30 

*Another lesson learned 😱 the hours of the local marché. Upstairs is a bunch of restaurants serving market produce after closing. I had a nice salade Gasconne (foie gras, magret, gésiers de dinde, confitures d’oignons) & a faux filet (18€). I ate leftover filet for breakfast 🍳 this morning 😂

I did not try Toulouse’s famous violette candies

I did have the best ever strawberry ice cream 🍓 milkshake. The French woman sitting next to me, immediately went inside and ordered the same thing 😄

At SLD Cafe, 

         Place de la Trinité yesterday

Do you have any Toulouse Must-Do tips PBers?

I’ll hit the Saturday Vide Grenier this morning, then back to painting.  Please share Parisbreakfast with a friend.

And take a look in my Etsy shop for Paris gifts 🎁 An Eiffel tower letter for Father’s Day peut-etre ?

More on Toulouse’s Victor Hugo marché HERE.