Lufthansa was having a sale on direct flights to Toulouse, so how could we resist going to meet up with our friends who have a house just outside the city? I only wish we had gone sooner, because as a vacation destination it was fabulous.
Toulouse itself is a wonderful city for wandering. One day we roughly followed a walking tour laid out in a guidebook, which took us from big market squares, past monuments and public art, to small, winding, gallery-filled streets.
For lunch we stopped at vegetarian cafe La Faim des Haricots. There you can choose a combination of salad bar, savory tarts, dish of the day, and/or dessert bar, and eat as much as you like. It was filling and yummy.
An item on my must-eat-whenever-in-France list is macarons (not to be confused with macaroons, those coconut cookies). These little mouthfuls of joy consist of two light, flavored cookies smooshed together around a flavored cream. We picked up some at Poussin Bleu (45 rue du Languedoc), and amazingly they survived the trip all the way home (but not much longer after that). The caramel and pistachio flavors were my favorite.
Toulouse was one of those cities where I found myself contemplating whether I’d want to live there. It had a good vibe. I’d at least like to go back for more wandering.
I heart Lufthansa sales! We scored 2 roundtrip, direct flight tickets to the US for Christmas for only 730 Euros total thanks to a Lufthansa sale. We upgraded our rental car in a mini-celebration.
Toulouse looks incredible…going to have to add that to the 2010 travel wish list.
Toulouse looks wonderful. Feeling all ready to go on holiday now.
I have been there once and loved it. Great pictures…now i want cookies!
Juliette – that's a great deal! Don't you love finding those?
Mel – enjoy your holidays!
Frau – Mmmm, I want cookies too.
Had a smile at the café named "La Faim des Haricots." How's your French? 🙂
The hunger for beans reference is a a pun on "C'est la fin des haricots" – in various contexts an expression which can mean the jig is up, it's curtains for us, it's the end of the line, etc…
wow – what a deal Juliette! Toulouse looks incredible. I do agree, would love to go back…
Toulouse looks wonderful. Feeling all ready to go on holiday now. i'm a essay writers.
Ooooh, looks fab. I love southern France, but we never seem to make it that far west. Next time, perhaps.
Looks inviting. Haven't been yet and will have to check it out now!