I tried a new restaurant today. I had asked Enzo and Erwin for restaurant suggestions and they gave me four suggestions. I tried one yesterday. It was Reflets. I had walked by it many times and it seemed like an interesting restaurant but I had not tried it until yesterday.

It is small as most restaurants are in Toulouse. The locations is designed in a minimalist but modern style. The main decorations are wind bottles lining the walls and niches. The staff was very friendly and was willing to deal with my French. They were willing to speak English but I asked them to only speak French to me.

The food was very good. The lunch menu was just two options for appetizers (entrees), main courses (plats) and desserts (deserts). I opted for the Carpaccio de Canard (duck carpaccio). It thinly cut and slightly cured duck breast with mussels as garnish. It was excellent. It was very tasty and beautifully presented.

For the main course, I had Risotto with mushrooms with a parsley emulsion. It was very hearty and good. It had a variety of mushrooms which I enjoyed. It is not just white mushrooms and portobellos as we generally get in an American grocery store.

I had a nice glass of Savioe white wine with the meal. It accompanied the meal very well. I skipped dessert as the appetizer and main course was plenty for me.

I went to the running group in the evening as usual. As usual, we ran a completely new course. This one was included with multiple stair up and downs. We ran a bridge over the canal du Midi up one side and down the other then a circle around a plaza and back over the bridge. The leader for tonight is the one who likes to make the runs more challenging. It is pretty amusing. Whenever we stop to let the laggards catch up, he wants us to do squats. He usually does not get many takers. He, also, encourages the slower group to hurry up. It is fun to run with him but amusing.

After the run, Elliot and I stopped at La Reserve for a quick drink. It was nice to catch up with him and hear about his plans for the future job wise and life wise. He really wants to move out of France for a period of time. I encourage that option. While having a drink we saw at least two other running groups run by the bar. Toulouse is definitely a running city.

I am beginning to be accepted totally in the running group. While I was waiting for the start, a number of the runners came up and said hello and asked how I was doing. It is nice to feel included by people that I do not really know.

The main picture is balloons being released in the Place de Capitole. This afternoon. A group was in the plaza holding the balloons and then released them. Not sure the purpose but it was fun to see.

The picture below is a group of young people who were congregating and walking around the Place Saint Pierre. It was all organized and most of the group was wearing blue coveralls with logos on them but I am not sure what the purpose was. There was a leader with a bullhorn leading the group.