As my time begins to wind down on this stay in Toulouse, I have been reflecting on what I love about being here and what I am going to miss when I am back in Alexandria. The one good thing is that I know I am going to return to Toulouse in the fall so it will not be a permanent loss.

One things is the people I have met. I cannot say that I have really made friends but I have made acquaintances and have built a community here. The running group has been a major part of that. I am really beginning to feel a part of it as I am meeting more people and they recognize me and chat with me. I am beginning to run into them outside of the regular Tuesday and Thursdays. As happened the last time, I am meeting more English speakers as trip comes to an end. I met a French/Canadian (not Quebecois) but half French and half English Canadian. He works for an aerospace company here and is a graduate of Georgia Tech. He says his co-workers refer to him as the most American French person they know. He said since he did not grow up in France he does not feel culturally attuned to France and feels more North American. It was fun to talk to him.

The running group has also produced IG followers. I had the picture of Noam and Nordine that I posted and that had Noam start to follow me (and I think inspired him to start posting on IG). I posted another picture of the run with Noam and Lucas and tagged Noam and Run in Toulouse. Suddenly I had more views of people in Run in Toulouse and some started following me. I guess I will have to post pictures for Alexandria when I come back so they can see Alexandria running and life. Lucas, the one in white in the second picture, always brings a portable speaker and plays fun music as we run.

The people who work at the restaurants that I frequent have been super nice to me and very welcoming. The group at Le Panache is the best. Gabriel at Le Petit Marais is always friendly and chats. The staff a Terra Tolosa are very friendly as well. The chef actually joked with me that they would reserve the Chef’s Table all week for me if I wanted to come every day. Not sure I am going to do that but will go a couple of times more before I leave.

As discussed in earlier posts, the olive seller is great as well. He always is very talkative and nice.

All in all, the community I have made here makes me feel welcome and part of life.

The other thing I am going to miss is the food. I have had some fantastic meals while in Toulouse and the amazing thing is that most are inexpensive. I had another great meal at Terra Tolosa for lunch.

The whole meal plus a glass of wine was $35.00. That is on the high end of what I usually spend for a meal. I will miss all the places I have eaten here but La Panache and Terra Tolosa are the two most creative and amazing.

I will miss running into various street artists that just set up and play at various parts of the city. Walking home from the run, there was a band set up on the Quai du Daurade. I find different types of artists at different places all the time. Everyone seems to enjoy them.

Walking and wandering is always something that I enjoy. I am going to have to learn to incorporate it in my life back in Alexandria.

Again, I will miss Toulouse but know I will return in the fall so it is not as sad as it could be.