The weather is usually quite nice in Toulouse but this morning was one of the rainy and cool days. When I woke up it was pouring and I was not looking to heading out to do the usual activities that I have on Sunday – going to the open air market at St. Aubin’s, doing some shopping at the Marchè Victor Hugo, and going to church.

Luckily, the rain abated some when I headed out to walk over to St. Aubin’s. It is about a 15-20 minute walk over to the market. One of the downsides of living without a car in a very walkable city is that you have to walk even when the weather is not ideal. There is a ride sharing service but since most of old Toulouse where I live is mostly (to totally) pedestrian only, the ride sharing service is not very practical. So the option is to walk.

I got to the market relatively dry and did my usual shopping. I went to my favorite fruit and vegetable stand and bought two peaches, a zucchini, lettuce, cucumber, radishes, garlic, mandarins (5) and a tomato. All of this cost me less than $12.00. Also, all the produce except the mandarins were local and they were from Spain.

I, then, went to the olive stand. When the man selling the olives saw me, he immediately said “I have not seen you in a long time”. It was really nice to be remembered. I explained that I had spent the summer in the United States. He seemed concerned as he has a friend in Los Angeles and the friend had told him that things were not that good. I bought olives and olive oil from him. It is nice to be remembered after not being here for three months. I guess the odd American who comes to the market every week is memorable.

Unfortunately, the rain did not hold off for my walk from St. Aubin’s to the Marchè Victor Hugo. I got soaked but it was okay. I bought some lamb chops and Bream filets for dinner on Sunday and Monday night. Those are my generally stay at home nights. A lot of restaurants and shops are closed those days.

I did make my splurge stop and bought a chocolatine (pain au chocolat or chocolate croissant in Toulouse) at Maison Pillon. It still amazes me that the chocolatine costs 1.50 euros ($1.80 at the current exchange rate). I feel a little indulgence for such a wonderful treat is ok.

It was still raining for the walk home but it was not pouring the way it was from St. Aubin‘s to the Marchè. I had to get out of the wet clothes when I got home.

After a nice breakfast of melon, chocolatine and tea, I headed out to the English language mass at Saint Sernin. I am not catholic but am an Episcopalian so Saint Sernin works for me for church as I enjoy going to church and want to continue here in Toulouse.

A bonus of going to the church was that’s the priest announced that Notre Dame du Taur was open for visiting today. The church had been under renovation the whole time I have been coming to Toulouse but is considered a major historic church. I would not have known it was available for viewing if I had not gone to church. The priest also said that the English language service started at Notre Dame du Taur. I walked over and looked at the church, it was magnificent. I am glad that I got to see it. The renovation is not finished and it will be even more impressive when it is finished.

After visiting the church, I walked over to the Musée Saint-Raymond which is the archeological museum for Toulouse. Toulouse had Bronze Age, Roman, Gaul and medieval history and the museum shows things that have been found and recovered from those periods. It, also, has a collection of Egyptian and Greco-Roman works collected my wealthy Toulousians. The museum was open for free for the weekend. It was interesting to see the history of Toulouse in an informative way.

The open day at the museum also included re-enactments of life during each period but due the rain there were not many of the re-enactments on Sunday.

After all this activity, the rest of Sunday was a sit in the apartment and avoid more drizzle and chilly weather. I read most of the afternoon and then cooked my first home cooked meal in the apartment. I had to get used to the induction stove and stove top again. I made dinner without too much trouble.

All in all, for a lousy weather day, it was a good day.