The day started out with what I call “life maintenance”. I had to do laundry after the trip to Champagne. I am getting better at the laundry routine as I have now figured out how long it takes for the washing machine to run. Also, the time has to be built in because there is no dryer so everything is air dried.

After starting the wash, I headed over to the Marché Victor Hugo to stock up on food for the rest of the week. I got fruit for breakfast, some cheese and Jamon for lunch. I had to choose one of the cheese mongers in the Marché as I was not in Toulouse to go to the St. Aubin’s farmers market for my usual cheese purchase.

I read some in the morning and early afternoon while the laundry was finishing and was relaxing.

In the evening, I headed out for my usual walk to watch the sunset. The sunsets when the weather is agreeable are really outstanding here. It is one thing that I am going to really miss when I am back in DC. I will try to make it a habit to walk by the Potomac at sunset but you do not have the feel of the buildings lining both sides of the river and reflecting the light off the pink bricks. For some reason, last night’s sunset was even more beautiful. The Garonne was very still and dark and you could see the clouds reflecting the pink light off the river. It is one of my favorites times in Toulouse.

I walked back through the city and stopped at Au Pere Louis for quinquina. It is the local aperitif. We had it at Au Pere Louis when I took the wine bar tour. The bar is very small, old and quaint. Quinquina is somewhat like compari but not as bitter. There was going to be a local music act but I did not stay as I had to get home and fix dinner.

As I was walking home, I could hear loud music and lots of noise. I followed the sounds and found that there was some kind of street party going on by the Marché Victor Hugo. You had to go through security to get in and I did. As I wandered around, I decided it must have been some school related activity (could be wrong) as everyone there looked like they were college age to mid-twenties at the most. I decided that I was not the right demographic and since I did not really know what it was for, I just wandered through and then headed home for dinner.