Couiza, Limoux Brass Band Festival and Toulouse. April 24-May 2.

Capitol building of Toulouse- The Pink City

This has been a fairly laid back week and a half . We gave up our bikes on Tuesday. We’ll miss them because it expanded our territory a little and we were able to bike to the big grocery store a few miles away and stock up. Without the bikes we’re more ‘local’. I managed a swim, Kaye, a good walk or two and we did some planning for London which is only a month away.

Feeling a little restless after giving up the bikes we took the local bus from Limoux to Couiza which is about 12 kilometers away. Our intention was to walk to Rennes-le-Château which we thought was 2 kilometers from town. After walking about 2 miles uphill we realized we weren’t going to make it to the Chateau and back down and make the return bus. It was actually about 2 1/2 miles to the Chateau so we retreated back to town and walked around town until the bus came by. Some of the photos are from the beautiful church in the town of Couiza. We’ll have to save the Chateau for another day.

Couiza Church

Chandelier in Couiza Church

Storm passing through Limoux

Attended 3 of the performances at the Limoux Brass Festival. Excellent bands and music. Everything from show tunes to New Orleans Jazz.

Took the train to Toulouse for 3 days to pick up a car and explore Toulouse- the Pink City. We were there May 1, Labor Day and a big holiday for the French so nothing was open, parades in the street and armed guards on every corner. The city was not crowded and a great chance to walk and bike around the city. Visited the Capitol, the Basilica of St. Sernin ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint-Sernin,_Toulouse ), and the Cathedral of St. Etienne (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint-Sernin,_Toulouse).

Images from Toulouse.

Toulouse street scene

St. Sernin

Toulouse Street

Passion in the park

Passion in the square

Guarding the Merry go Round

Toulouse Streets

Taking a break

Climbing stairs at the Capitol

Art in the Capitol Building in Toulouse

Best meal in France so far at Vents d’ Est.

WWI War Memorial

The Basilica of St. Sernin ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Saint-Sernin,_Toulouse )

Basilica of St. Sernin

Basilica of St. Sernin Orgns

Basilica of St. Sernin

Row of seats at Basilica of St. Sernin

Cathedral of St. Etienne ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toulouse_Cathedral )

Pipe Organ in St. Etienne

The Rose Window from 1230 AD

The arches of St. Etienne

St. Etienne

Drove our leased Renault Clio back to Limoux and stopped off at Mirepoix to visit the Medieval town (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirepoix,_Ariège ).

We’ve got some short day trips planned over the next few weeks. Next week, at train ride into the Pyrenees.