Usually on running days (Tuesday and Thursday), I cook dinner after the run. Sometimes it is time consuming and I do not eat until later than I would like. The run starts at 7:00 pm and lasts until around 8:00 – 8:15 pm. I walk the 5 minutes back to my apartment and then take a shower. Once done, I start dinner which means I really do not eat until around 9:30. This is a late dinner even for me.

I decided to switch and have my large meal at lunch and then a lighter meal in the evening. So I decided not to cook the larger meal but go out for lunch at a restaurant. In France, most restaurants have a formule for meals where you can get an appetizer, main dish and dessert for a fixed price. They also have the option of an appetizer and main dish or main dish and dessert. At lunch the price for these are very reasonable – usually between 15 and 20 euros.

I had been looking at restaurant (Le Petit Quai) ever since I arrived but it was always packed at dinner time when I was checking it out. I wondered over at lunch and found that it was not busy. Not sure if the cooler weather had deterred people from being out or whether it is just not as busy at lunch. The restaurant has 18 seats so very small. I ended up not having the formule but had a great meal of roasted chicken in mustard sauce, roasted potatoes and salad. Being into the French idea of lunch, I, also, had a glass of local white wine. The whole meal was fantastic. I am going to have to go back another time for lunch. The total price as 18 euros.

In the evening, I joined the running group as usual. It surprises me every time because we run a slightly different course each run. We usually cover some of the same paths but there is usually a variation. Last night we ran farther out of the downtown than previous times but all along the Garonne. This time we actually ran out to where I had run when I got lost when I was running here in August. I wish I had known this route back then as it would have made it a great deal easier.

Tonight there was a young man running with a speaker and playing music during the whole run. He and some of his friends were having great fun and kept referring to him as “DJ”. There was even some hand movements as we were running. It was pretty fun to have the music along the run. Towards the end, we had been turned loose to run fast if we want to and I was running when he caught up with me. We started chatting and he was amazed that I was from the US and was running with them. We had fun chatting and running to his music. It did make me run faster for that part of the run.

Just a comment on the weather turning colder. Even though it was a blustery chilly day, the French still sit out at cafes for coffee, beer and wine. There were not nearly as many people but definitely people out. I think part of it is that many restaurants are so small inside that people need to sit outside. One cafe I saw had blankets on the chairs for the diners. I do not think that cafe/restaurant even had inside seating.