Sunday was a much calmer day than Saturday’s mobilization. Toulouse seemed to be needing a day of rest after all the excitement.

I walked over to a pastry shop in the morning to get some of the small pastries I like from the Poussin Rose. I am having Emily and Barbara over for wine, charcuterie, cheese and some pastries on Monday.

As I walked across the old part of the city, you could see some of the vandalism caused by the fringes of the mobilization. There was graffiti on lots for walls, signs and other objects. Much of it was by the French Antifa group. There were remnants of fires that had been started on streets leading of the Place du Capitole. The police had completely blocked off the Place du Capitole so that no damage could be done there. Luckily or, maybe, deliberately the fires were all in the middle of the streets and had not damaged buildings. I think one damage a group of the bikes at a bike share stand. The most unsettling and sad were the vandalized stores. I saw two vandalized sporting goods (shoe) stores, one vape shop, a window in the Normal store (which is basically the equivalent to an American drugstore without a pharamacy). I read that Carrefours, a grocery chain, was particularly targeted. Most of the stores were looted just for robbery as they had nothing to do with the grievances being protested.

Walking near the Place St. Pierre, I saw a burned trash bin but was interested as it was not really near anything except the square. Also, it had not been there when I walked home on Saturday night so it must have been lit randomly late at night. Also, it really could not have done any damage.

I met Emily and Barbara and we went to church at St. Sernin. It is always nice but this week it was a little bigger than normal. They used the grand organ for the service instead of the smaller organ. There were two priests rather than one and there were four alter servers. It might have been because there was a group visiting from Brazil. I am guessing the group had made the pilgrimage to Lourdes. The shrine at Lourdes is about 2 hours from Toulouse.

There is supposed to be another Day of Mobilization on November 5th. The French school systems is on their two week fall break and will not be open again until November 2nd. The government of France is threatening to deal with the vandals harshly. There has been some continued violence in some cities. There seems not much that France can actually do about many of the issues as they are in the lead up to the next Presidential election in May 2027 so as everywhere politics is involved. Also, the French national finances are not in great shape so there is not a great deal of money that than be used to alleviate the grievances as well as the current government is trying to cut government spending.

After church, we wandered to Place du Capitole and had lunch at Le Bibent, the oldest bistro in Toulouse. It was opened in 1861. The decor is Belle Epoque and is over the top. I had a seafood soup which was excellent.

The ladies went back and rested. I read. In the evening, we met at their hotel and had Aperol Spritz and dinner.