One Man Travelling...

A gem of an idea came to fruition on Wednesday 21st February 2018 as I boarded the train from Toulouse to Bordeaux. Departing at 09:00 hrs, the journey would take about 2 hours. Coffee and a baguette for breakfast from the trolley service as we rolled along. As the sun broke through the clouds the countryside changed to reveal the famous chateaus and vines of the area. The huge diesel electric engine would eventually haul the train on up country to Paris. Alighting from the train at Gare de Bordeaux Saint-Jean I proceeded to the information office where the friendly staff provided me with a transport map and a one day travel pass. It would appear that these are common to most large cities in France. I was later given a tourist map at another location which gave more details of the attractions in the city and was probably more useful for a short visit. Emerging from the station, a pause for a photo of the grand edifice then the city centre beckoned via the tram. I had already deci...

Tuesday morning 20th February 2018, guess what? It's raining. Off I went to the railway station as I needed to purchase some tickets before descending to the Metro to retrace my route back to the Musée Aeroscopia. By the time I alighted at Andoméde Lycée the rain was torrential, sheltering as best I could I made a phone call to the taxi company used yesterday. I was going to attempt a walk today. Arriving warm and dry I registered at the desk and also hired an audio guide. There is an app for your mobile phone but it is no longer available from Google Play, if you have an Apple you are in luck. I paused for a cup of coffee from the deluxe vending machine and a sandwich before entering the museum. Once you commence your tour you cannot come and go, perhaps they should serve refreshments inside? Up the steps, along a grey corridor lined with plaques depicting notable events in the history of flight, through a door, you enter the Great Gallery on the first floor to be greeted by...

Monday 19th February 2018, yesterday evening whilst eating pizza I poured over the rather nice tourist map and my guide to Toulouse trying to decide where to visit which would not expose me to the winter weather. Having come all this way I was determined not to spend all of my time in the hotel. Two places caught my eye, Musée Aeroscopia and Cité de Espace. Both locations were in the suburbs and seem to assume that everyone is visiting by car. Up for a challenge I opted for the former as the map also bore the caption "Let's Visit Airbus".  Unfortunately I slept rather late which would be of significance later in the day. Reception kindly printed off my route and off I went. A quick walk over to the railway station for a McMuffin breakfast then down into the Metro heading for Arénes. I emerged into an area of very modern apartment buildings, Toulouse appears to be rejuvenating itself once again, and was delighted to see that the tram stop a few metres away. Trick...

Yesterday I started to tell you about my adventures in Toulouse and started off my "Toulouse photo album". I included this photograph taken on the rear corner of the Capitole building, home of the Mairie de Toulouse, as I was walking down from the metro exit.  At the time of writing I was puzzled by the apparent duplication which also happens with the street signs affixed to buildings. Some more information came to my attention afterwards which I thought of great interest and I added a second copy of the photograph to the album which explains the reason. Until the holy war to exterminate the Cathars, a novel called "Labyrinth" by Kate Moss gives an excellent introduction into this part of French history as she weaves fact and fiction into a very readable tale, France was basically two countries, the king in the north and the various counts in the south. As I will show later in this adventure there were two economic regions too with taxes and duties, at different rat...

Now where was I, ah yes, we had just walked into Place du Capitole in search of a market only to discover that it had been replaced by an ice rink. Dear to my own heart as memories of my youth at Durham ice rink came flooding back. Here in Toulouse the open air rink appears every winter for the entertainment of young and old. I was pleased to see a children's play area at one end where parents could entertain their children on 'seal' sledges or learn to skate in safety. An ample selection of skates for hire meant that the main rink was populated by all age groups some skating alone, others in groups all with happy smiles as the background music encouraged a holiday atmosphere. Alas my skating days are over so I retired to a restaurant where I could sit and watch the goings on in the square whilst enjoying my Sunday lunch French style. Whilst sitting having my lunch, and I must admit to picking a table close to the outdoor heater I am not that hardy, I was idly people ...

Having got settled into my new location feet toasting near the fire I received a message that I was to be evicted into the cold winter of France. My nephew was arriving with six of his mates for a week of skiing and booze. Actually it was five mates and his girlfriend, a very plucky lady I thought to myself. No room at the inn for me. Being February it was not the ideal time for sightseeing so I thought perhaps a week in Paris visiting the Louvre as it would take a week to get round it all. A quick rethink when I discovered that it would cost me about 260 euros in train fairs alone. Somewhere closer to home was required so I decided upon Toulouse and a very large book to read as I hibernated in the hotel. Bag packed, key hidden, Saturday 17th February saw me waiting for the train at the halt in Les Cabannes. I had my ticket on my mobile phone as there is no ticket office here. A digital display informs of the arrival of the next three scheduled trains and mine was on time. ...

Those of you who have seen the odd comment on Facebook, Instagram or WhatsApp will be aware of me hibernating in the midi-Pyrenees in a little village called Aulos, sometime home to my sister, brother-in-law and nephew. This is a beautiful place with dramatic views of mountains all around. An American friend of mine in Bulgaria sent me this information when he found out where I was headed. I cannot vouch for the authenticity but, looking at the road winding through the high mountain sides I can well believe it: Probably more chickens than residents An aulos or tibia was an ancient Greek wind instrument, depicted often in art and also attested by archaeology. An aulete was the musician who performed on an aulos. The ancient Roman equivalent was the tibicen, from the Latin tibia, "pipe, aulos." - Looking at the photo of the entrance to town, with grey looming massif of stone forcing the road to bend-a pipe-Yep! The inhabitants of the commune are known as...