Two of my friends, are visiting. They are the first people who have come to visit me since I started the new adventure and the next chapter.

I got up fairly early and walked over to catch the Navette (airport bus) to get to the airport to meet their plane. I wanted to meet them and make sure they go to the apartment without having to figure it out themselves with being tired from the flight.

We caught the bus back and walked over to the apartment. We stopped on the way to pick up some chocolatines for breakfast and a baguette for dinner. I was introducing them to the French life early.

After a quick showers for them, we had breakfast. The chocolatines and the coffee I had bought the other day for Jen. I had a pot of tea. Jesse had orange juice.

After some recovery, we started exploring Toulouse. I took them through some of the highlights of Toulouse, a walk along the Garonne, the Marchè Victor Hugo and the Rue de Alsace Lorraine (the main walking street for shopping in Toulouse) and then some wandering down the little streets. We stopped at the Compotior Irelandais – the Irish shop and looked at the whiskey and bourbon collections. It is unusual to think of an Irish shop selling Irish products in Toulouse.

For lunch, I took them to Terra Tolosa. It is one of my regular haunts and I wanted to show it to them and have them eat the good food. As usual it as great. Jesse and I started with the haddock appetizer which is smoked haddock, mouse with haddock, orange, trout caviar and leeks. Jen had whipped cheese with herbs served on purée of eggplant. I forgot to take a picture of Jen’s appetizer and main.

For Jesse and my main course, we had filet of pork over mashed potatoes with carrots and a red wine reduction. It was very tender and the red wine reduction was great. Jen had tuna with root vegetables. Similar to the main course I had last week for lunch.

Remy suggested a great wine. It was from the Fronton region but was not made with Negrette. It was made with Jurancon Noir. It is a varietal that I have never heard of before. Remy said it was an old varietal that wine makers are beginning to use and bring back. It was ideal for our two different main course as it is a light red but had depth of flavor. The wine maker is Jean-Marc Vilboux. I think he is a local person.

After lunch we wandered some more and ended up having a pint of beer that the Pêcheurs de Sable in the Port of Daurade. It is a cute cafe down by the river. It is usually packed in the afternoon so I have never had a drink there. I guess because it was cloudy and somewhat chilly it was not super crowded.

Since Jesse and Jen like beer, I have found a brewpub Hop and Scotch. It is a Scottish themed bar in Toulouse. They brew their own beer as well. We stopped there and had another pint of locally brewed beer. It was another first for me as I had not gone there before. I am not a huge beer drinker but can appreciate a local beer.

After a quick rest, we headed out again. Jesse and I did the Run in Toulouse run. I had met Jesse and Jen originally in the Pacers running group so both are runners. Jen has been injured so she was not able to run. Jesse survived his first experience of the running group – running through the crowded streets and dodging obstacles – cars, motorbikes, people, barriers and all the other challenges of running in the old part of Toulouse on narrow streets. He did well on the free run parts that i joke make it a tempo run.

We met Jen after the run and had a drink and then headed home for a quick, light dinner of cheese and charcuterie. Also introduced them to the pastries from the Rose Poussin. We drank the bottle of Fronton – Le Haut Bois with dinner. It is the wine of the right in the picture.

I think I wore them out but in all I think it was an enjoyable day for them.