I saw a post on IG showing Toulouse and pointing out things about the city that made it a great place and I had to agree with most of them. I had very similar thoughts about Toulouse – the light is like that of a painting more Renaissance than Impressionist, the vibe of the city, there is a vibrancy that always brings the unexpected, the food, there are so many good restaurants and patisseries, the brick buildings, and just the overall ambience of the city.

I think part of this is that there is a very large student population in Toulouse. The students are always out and about and enjoying being students. There is a conservatory here which leads to the impromptu groups and bands that you find doing street performances all the time.

The light is so often fantastic and surreal. I really do think I am in a Renaissance painting at times. The reflections for the river when the river is still. The sunsets are something I never get tired of seeing and change regularly based on the clouds and other factors. I think the brick buildings definitely play a part. It is how the city gets its nickname, the Rose City.

The vibrancy can be in everyday street life as well as the festivals and just fun street markets that go on every day or every week. The city is always alive with activities – cafe life, runners, bikers, walkers, people sitting on the banks of the Garonne. There is always something to do and see.

The buildings are historic and beautiful. I am surprised as many of the university buildings are modern and some brutalist. The is definitely a mix of the old and the new.

The last is the food. There are fabulous restaurants and pastry shops. My favorite are Le Panache, Terra Tolosa, Reflets, La Brassière, Petit Marais and Restaurant Gascon. My pastry shops are Patisserie Conte, the Poussin Rose and the Flowers cafe. I have found two new restaurants I am trying in the next couple of weeks Faire Sens – which I walked by the other day and have reservations for dinner on Saturday night. Also, Aux Pieds sous la Table, which is dinner on May 16th as I could not get reservations before that night for one of my eat out nights.

One cannot forget Py-r. I am glad Pamela and Kimberly introduced it to me. It was definitely an experience!

My list of food would not be complete without my experiences at the Victor Hugo Market, St. Aubin’s and the different places I shops.

But the most important part of the whole ode to Toulouse is the friends that I have made and the experiences I have had through them. Life would not be nearly as enjoyable and as enriching without them.

I cannot forget those who have come to visit.

I hope you can tell why I love Toulouse and my life here.