A walk in the rain...

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. Tricky, which direction am I travelling? This is route T1, consulting the map the terminus appears to be Aeroconstellation which is displayed on this side of the tracks. I wait for five minutes sheltering from the rain and here comes my tram. My travel pass works as I enter the carriage. The trams run on a green corridor through the city breaking up the tarmac jungle. Out through the city we pass the huge red brick hospital complex. I am told that it is so big that there are shuttle buses running from the car park to the various clinics. The tram stops and disgorges many of the passengers. We continue on past the Roman Amphitheatre, I didn't know there was one. I am looking for stop Andoméde Lycée, I must admit that all the stops are clearly named, clean and all have maps and digital displays of the timetable.

Here we are, I get off and look around. I am in the heart of the modern industial complex, no dark satanic mills but shiny new office blocks and warehouse like structures behind high security fences. Well spaced and planted with walk and cycle tracks too. This is Airbus country and all the technology startups which accompany it. I get my bearings, crossing the road, I head down Boulevard Alain Savary. If you are interested he was a Socialist Politician who met his downfall when tried to limit the amount of public money financing private schools in France.

No change there then. I turn right onto Rue Jean-Pierre Petite. More apartments and office blocks, neatly spaced and architecturally boring. Left onto Ave. d' Androméde and I approach the huge roundabout over the D902 Voie Lactée (Milky Way). I can see the Musée and it looks far away. Dicing with the traffic on the slip road I manage to cross. This hike is supposed to be some 1.2 km in total. I am very cold and wet and feeling miserable. The entrance to Airbus Industries lies ahead of me. Changing plan I give up and head for the reception perhaps I can have a look around there.

No photographs or mobile phones on pain of death. No tour either, tickets are obtainable at the Musée or on the internet so no luck there. I sit a while and warm up. Retracing my steps towards the roundabout I change my mind and decide to turn left (right if you are approaching from the roundabout) along Rue Roger Béteille. Be careful otherwise you end up in the factory car park. This diversion allowed me to discover "Ailes Anciennes Toulouse". If I followed my original route down Allée André Tucat as directed I would have missed this gem even though it was closed.  I could see a large part of the outdoor display and managed to take some photos through the fence. Around the corner past a large red rocket next to the children's play area and there is my destination.

I enter into a discussion at the ticket desk. I can purchase an Airbus factory tour for the following day. I can also get a discounted ticket for "Ailes Anciennes Toulouse" which is open during the afternoon. I can buy a ticket for the museum now but once you exit you cannot re-enter. Due to the lateness of the hour I decide to return tomorrow morning. A trip around the museum followed by a visit to the Airbus factory then a visit to the Anciennes. 24 euros, a bargain. It is now torrential rain outside so I ask if they can call me a taxi to take me back to the tram stop. Five minute later a Mercedes limo pulls up and I travel back to the tram in style, albeit for 12 euros but I was past caring. Interestingly he took me to the Beauzelle stop which I was informed was the nearest to the museum. I am not sure that there is much in it myself.

Conveniently a tram was at the stop and we departed. As we retraced the journey I estimated that Ihad travelled half the route so made up my mind to go to the end of the line. This allowed me to see different suburbs and the respective architecture old and new and some sixties blocks just as we have in England. I took some photographs but, due to falling light and the motion of the train, few were successful. The view of the Garonne river and Pont Neuf as we crossed Pont Saint-Michel was particularly interesting. Pont du Halage de Tounis crosses a branch of the river, along with the Canal du Midi this is a very complicated waterway. We terminated at the Palais de Justice where I had a wander around. At the top of the B-line metro steps the Ariege-Gargone fountain, previously installed in the Jardin des Plantes, it was moved in 1982 to a blind wall in Place Lafourcade, in the Saint-Michel district.

This fountain is the work of the sculptor Alexandre Laporte in the 19th century. The monument, about 8 meters high, 6 meters wide, represents the Garonne, "a buxom, heroic and triumphant young woman who surrounds the rock from which its source escapes, while Ariège, a slender girl, sits at her feet, holding an inverted jug, joins her.This carved group is situated in a stone niche, the first basin receiving the water from the jug, which then flows into the great basin. Toulouse City Hall has recently undertaken the renovation of the fountain, including the restoration of sculptures, gable wall, basins and lighting and the return to service of the upper hydraulic circuit which allows the water to flow as originally intended. Apparently it is quite spectacular at night.

Into an the "Black Lion" public house for a much needed steak and a pint of Guinness. The meal was delicious and mine host friendly. A perfect way to end the day before returning to the hotel via the Palais de Justice metro station. My adventures always lead to some interesting discoveries whatever happens and wherever I roam, though the day did not go as planned it was not wasted. My photo album "A walk in the rain" contains the photographs of this (mis) adventure. I have also added them to my Toulouse photo album.  I will create a new one tomorrow if you will join me at the Musée Aeroscopia. Until then goodnight.