I am doing the regular things required to wrap up my time in. Toulouse. It is both fun and somewhat bittersweet.

I went shopping today for things to take back to Alexandria as gifts and mementos. I bought Stade Toulousian rugby polo shirts of two boys. I bought two cute dresses for two young ladies.

I bought salt to take home to my friends who know my obsession with salt. I read the book Salt and became fascinated with salt. Ever since then I have bought table salt from various locations around the world. France has multiple places where they collect/mine salt. I bought three samples and am giving it to my friends who I have over regularly over for dinner and have samples my different salts. I bought salt from Ile de Ré, Guérande, and Camargue. Guérande is not too far from Toulouse but it is not easy to get to by public transportation so I have not been to visit the salt flats where they gather the salt.

I went to La Voie Maltée, Cave a Bieres, and bought two beers that were brewed by local micro breweries here in Toulouse. One friends of mine is a beer connoisseur so I wanted to bring back some local beers for him.

I still have a few things to get. I am looking for a local brandy or after dinner liqueur. I want to give it to a friend who is interested in hard to get alcohol. I am going to the wine/liqueur store that I have bought a lot of local wine and ask what they think is best. I need a birthday present for my goddaughter as well. She is somewhat complicated to buy for but I will figure something out. Always last minute rush to get these types of things as I put it off.

Since it was a beautiful day, after shopping and walking around I stopped at Le Reserve for a spritz. I walked in and sat down. The waitress came over to ask what I wanted and the woman who manages the bar saw me and said “spritz” before I could respond to the waitress. I am a regular there as well. I read and enjoyed the weather.

For dinner, I went for the last dinner at Le Petit Marais. I had the foie gras appetizer which I really like. Gabriel was his usual pleasant person and it was a nice last dinner at Le Petit Marais. Gabriel told me Thursday is Ascension Day and is a bank holiday in France. I was wondering as the city seemed overly active as I was out. I ate outside and there were a constant flow of people on the street all evening. The river bank was packed with people taking advantage of the weather and the holiday.