It was a very interesting and contradictory day. Some of life was completely normal and then other parts were marked by demonstrations and violence.

The day started out normally. I met Emily and Barbara at there hotel and we walked over to the Marché Victor Hugo so they could get a feel of the covered market. Also, I wanted to buy some charcuterie and cheese so when they came over to the apartment we could share a bottle of wine and the cheese and charcuterie.

After the tour of the market and my purchases, we went to a cafe for coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Barbara needs to rest after periods of walking. While at the cafe we could see lots of young people all dressed and ready for the day of mobilization. Also, there was a contingent of police in the garden. Suddenly there was a flurry of activity on a street to the side of the cafe. A number of people were running and hurrying away from the street and there was smoke coming from down the street. The police had hurried off in that direction. When we left the cafe, you could feel the tear gas in the air. It was greatly dissipated but you still had some stinging in the eyes. The police had corralled a couple of young people and were searching their back packs. I did not know what the actual activity was that caused the tear gas to be used.

For the walk home we had to make a couple of detours as the Place du Capitole which would have been the normal route to walk was completely blocked off by the police. I got Barbara and Emily safely back to the hotel with no incident and I made it back to my apartment with no incident. I did see lots of people with signs and other signs that they were going to join the mobilization.

Later in the afternoon, I could hear chanting, shouting and music and knew the march was heading over the Pont des Catalans (right next to my apartment complex). I had seen previous marches on the road and bridge next to my apartment. I headed over to the bridge so I could the activity. It was amazing. It was a walk of people stretching for blocks. At one point there were so many people that the marchers could not move forward over the bridge.

After about a half hour, I moved to the wall in front of my apartment complex on the river as people where streaming down from the area around the bridge to that pathway since you could not move forward over the bridge.

I am glad that I left when I did because about 20 minutes later I heard several large booms and read later that they had used tear gas to clear the bridge.

We had dinner reservations at 7:30 at Reflets on the St. Cyprien side of the Garonne. I walked to the hotel to get Emily and Barbara and the city was still lively but the march was over and things had quieted down. We were able to walk from the hotel over the Pont St. Pierre with no problems and did not encounter any issues. Same with walking back from Reflets.

Dinner at Reflets was very good as usual. Xavier suggested a great wine to go with it. Barbara was thrilled as it had steak tartare served on a bone with the marrow.

She was also able to have sweetbreads which she loves. I do not know why but I have not been taking as many pictures of the food since they have been here. I think it is we are talking and I forget. When I am alone eating, it gives me something to do.

The walk back from the hotel through the Place St. Pierre was like a normal Saturday night. The college students were at Chez Tonton enjoying the night.

There were reports of vandalism but not nearly as bad as in other cities in France.

The reports said that 32,000 people took part in the march here in Toulouse.