I spend a great deal of my time just wandering around Toulouse. I do not want to say it is a confusing city but it is old and not set up on a grid system. Also, many of the streets and very narrow and winding. As I was wandering today, I came across three fountains that I had not seen before. Most of them were created in the 18th Century and were part of city improvements at the time. It is fun to go around a corner not expecting to see something interesting and then come across a fountain, a facade of a building, a hidden courtyard or other interesting sites. I think the Toulousians are used to seeing them so they do not stop and gawk, the way I do.

I got my second full bottle of wine today. I have found a wine store that sells local wines and I have gone twice to choose wine. The young man who runs the shop is very friendly and gives me suggestions. I ask in French and he responds in French until he sees I am not understanding all that he tells me. Then he gives me full explanation of the wine in English. I have a Malbec from Cahors. It is very good. Two out two so far.

I ran with Run in Toulouse again tonight. It was a good run on another beautiful night. The group is interesting as they run for distance and time not speed. There are three distances and the groups stay together over the distance of the run. They let the fast people go for parts of the run but then everybody regroups and runs most of the run as a group. I think they time it so all three groups get back at the same time and then the group does exercises and stretches as a group. It is a pretty large group. I still have not found many English speakers but I am still glad to run with them and feel part of a larger group. They seem friendly – maybe I am just being too nervous about my French to really interact. We will see what happens over the next couple of runs. Whatever happens, I will keep running with them.

In my wandering, I found a Five Guys. I knew they were international now but never thought there would be a Five Guys on the main shopping street in old Toulouse. If I get home sick for Alexandria and American food, I can go to Five Guys and get an Alexandria fix. For those who do not know, Five Guys originated in Alexandria and that is where the headquarters is located.

Off on my first field trip tomorrow. I am going to Bordeaux for the day.