The weather definitely improved today. I was excited to get out and do something fun. I went to the Pêcheurs de Sable so I could sit by the Garonne and enjoy some reading. I had a beer to enjoy the afternoon.

The rest of the day was spent in the usual life maintenance activities, doing laundry, cleaning the apartment and taking out the recycling and trash. An additional activity has been added which is taking my food wasted down and composting.

Since I have found the composting units in the parking lot my trash has definitely changed. It is amazing how little you actually need to trash with recycling and composting. This especially true since almost everything is recyclable in France. Also, the smaller shops and definitely the vegetable stands, boulangeries and other market stands provided containers that are totally recyclable. Almost all provide brown paper bags for your fruits and vegetables. Not many provide plastic bags. Even at the chicken, pork and seafood stands, the items are wrapped in paper and not plastic. Also, all the plastic bags are recyclable with the other recyclables so if you get one, there is no extra effort to recycle it. As with the United States, glass is separate but there are many bins all over the city that allows for glass recycling so it is convenient. France recycles 41% which is slightly lower than the EU average (49%) but it has increased over the last couple of years. The U.S rate is 32%.

I did a little more shopping as well. I had to get cereal and milk for breakfasts and cannot get those at the market. I have been trying to compare prices but it is somewhat hard without the U.S. prices easily ready for comparison. I do think most goods are cheaper here. I bought a box of cereal, a package of generic Lulu chocolate cookies, a 50cl of milk and a 2 liter container of Lipton Iced Tea (one of my indulgences) and the whole cost was $8.33. I had saved a couple of receipts from grocery shopping so I can compare when I get back.

These are the dinners I cooked based on my Sunday shopping.

One of my obsessions here in Toulouse is the Garonne, the river that runs through the city. It is such a part of the city and integral to the life of the city. It is fairly narrow as it a passes through the city and there is development on both sides. It is now controlled by a dam in the mountains so the rate of flow of the river is different depending on the outflow for the dam. I have seen it anywhere from a trickle to a rushing torrent. I was not here in February when it flooded and was 9 feet over flood stage. Fortunately, the city is mainly built high above the river banks. The St. Cyprien section is more at the level of the river but there are dykes along the river to protect the area from flooding. I walk by the river every day and watch the changes.

There are many types of activities on the river – crew, water skiing, walking, running, performances and other fun things.