I have friends that are coming to visit starting on Wednesday so I decided to skip going out to lunch on Tuesday as I will be going out for lots of meals when my friends are here.

I headed to the market to pick up some things so I would have lunch for today and some fruit for breakfasts without having to shop while my friends are here.

Part of the thing I like about living in Toulouse is that I can set up something to do every day. It gives me a reason to get out of the house as well as get steps in for the day. It is part of what gives me purpose. It is small things, go to market and shop, go out and have a beer or an Aperol spritz after a long walk, go out for a meal. I do not feel that I have that same kind of life in Alexandria. I think part of that is because of the life style in the United States, big grocery stores, the cost of going out for a drink and dinner and the necessity to drive. There are places I could shop every day but they are scattered and not within walking distance of my apartment. I find that I vegetate more in Alexandria than I do here in Toulouse.

I splurged on strawberries as my fruit today. I had seen them at St. Aubin’s but did not buy them on Sunday. They are listed as being a product of France so they are not imported from a far. They look the same as the ones I bought in the spring.

During my walk to the market, I saw one of the lycées that was being blocked by students. They had large garbage bins blocking the entrance. Most of the students were just siting around, talking, eating, playing music and being students. There was one woman with a megaphone discussing the issues. It was all very benign compared to some of the images I have seen. Also, there were no police presents.

I thought it was an amusing contrast to walking past the University where the students were all lined up to enter the cafeteria for lunch. The line reminded me of my college days.

In the evening, I ran with Run in Toulouse. Elliot was back from his trip to the UK. He visited York and Edinburgh. He told me he had haggis and really liked it. He was trying to find a place in Toulouse that serves it. I told him he was the only non-Scottish person I had heard say that haggis was good.

I saw Marc at the run for the first time. It was nice to run with him. I am worried that he is going to have trouble with the Athens marathon as he has not run since August. He has been working out and did a lot of training for this trail races this summer but still just starting running again slightly more than a month before the marathon, I do not think bodes well. I hope I am wrong.

We are having sort of an Indian Summer so the weather has been nice and am still running in short sleeves and shorts.