Day 2: Toulouse, Sun & Cloud, 21°

Beginnings

After being up for some 32 hours, I finally decided that enough was enough as I gratefully crawled into bed at 20:30. I slept off and on (mostly on) until 6:00 this morning before finally dragging my still weary body out of bed for a very welcome shower! Down for a decent breakfast which is included with my accommodation, and then back up to my room where I again accidentally fell asleep!😅 Finally at 11:00 I decided that if I really wanted to see this lovely city that I’d best get on with my adventure. I spent a few minutes flipping through Google Maps to sort out a walking route and then I started out the door and into a somewhat grey morning, but with a reasonably decent 18° temperature.

As I walked I could feel my energy returning, and I marvelled at just how long I’d hibernated. Very out of character.

My first stop was the graceful and serene 11th C. Basilica Saint-Sernin. A 200 year build with clean lines and a rather interesting steeple.

Since yesterday I’ve been seeing a number of pelerin in town as Toulouse is on the Chemin de Arles which AM and I walked in 2018 during our Camino For Alzheimer Awareness. After a week together, we parted ways with Kathy and Bob here in Toulouse to walk onwards to Santiago while they flew up to Annecy to see friends.

As I hold some particularly strong and special memories from our 2018 journey with Kathy I decided to have the first stamp placed in my credential here rather than wait until Carcassonne tomorrow. After all, a Camino can really start anywhere, and today this just really felt like the right beginning. I think that Kathy would have liked that.❤️

I’ve decided to begin writing this post while sitting here inside this serene building after I found myself reflecting on our time together with Kathy. I’m hoping that by the time I finish this section that the promised sun will be shining.🌞

There are some quite beautiful frescos on the ceilings and walls of the basilica. Really unique and quite beautiful.

Ok. Enough reflective time for now. Hey, I’m on a Camino with lots of days ahead for further reflection should I feel the need. It’s one of the side effects of a Camino whether you want to or not!😂

And look…the sun has just come out!

From the basilica I walked down to the impressive Garonne River to wander along the embankment and ended up at an old water mill site.

The mills date back to the 12th C. and operated until the mid 1800’s when the site was then converted to a hydroelectric operation.

Today the hydroelectric site has transitioned into a museum with some of the original hydro components still in place.

I was intrigued by what I’d read and went inside also hoping for a better view of the river. However, I quickly found the main exhibit more interesting as it was a very thoughtful display of the drawings and art produced by Dutchman Maurits Escher. If the name means nothing to you, his pictures certainly should ring a bell.

I particularly liked this puddle image;

Time again to walk on and I headed down river enjoying the views as I went.

Eventually coming across the Pont Neuf an 11th bridge that crosses the river to the site of a very old pilgrim Hospital. The city of Toulouse has long been a major pilgrimage stop over.

Toulouse really is a very lovely city. It clearly has its problems as I found quit a number of street people in certain areas and people asking for handouts. Not really any different from where I live, making this all too common situation all the more troublesome and with no easy fix. 

After wandering around the core of the old city area, I decided that was time to pick up some lunch, find a few groceries and then return to my accommodation to complete this blog post. Once that’s done, I’ll transition my pack from travel mode to walking mode. Another night of sleep should find me ready to get underway tomorrow. It will be an early morning so that I can enjoy breakfast before catching the train an hour southeast to Carcassonne.

I’m sure I’ll be ready to walk tomorrow, that is, if I can just keep my eyes open!😂

Bon Chemin!

Geoff🍻

PS. I meant to add that if you put in an anonymous comment to my blog please finish it with just your first name so I can figure out who’s commenting.🙂 Love to hear from you!