Albi

We took our first trip to a small town, Albi, about an hour north of Toulouse. It was only an hour train ride and the Ahmed-Leon family joined us. Friday was VERY rainy but luckily we had lots of red wine, French cheese and bread, and a warm fire to keep us cozy and happy! 

Learning French continues to be a challenge, but I'm not giving up! I really try and practice speaking when I'm out at the stores and restaurants, but lots of people switch to speaking to me/us in English (when they can). It turns out that there are a lot of people who speak Spanish here, too. I overheard the cashier at the local market talking in Spanish, so I asked her if she habled in Espanol and she did! It felt so light and easy to speak Spanish - and fun! 

I always remember this line from a book I used to read aloud to my 5th graders called Naomi the Lion by Pam Munoz Ryan. Naomi is an emerging bilingual and she describes how trying to speak a second language feels like trying to talk with marbles rolling around in your mouth. Well, I definitely feel that - lots and lots of marbles in there are garbled together anytime I try and produce French aloud!  

Happenings from Toulouse - a couple of warm and sunny days that reached 70!

Picking up our first box of macaroons 

Pistachio please 

Moonlight view our front door 

Enjoying some time on the Garonne with everyone else in the city

Finn a picked up a new game "Kinoko" that we tested out while Maggie had ballet 

Playing with Mara at a local park near our apartment 

This week's date night at Meat the Meat 

We found a ballet store for Maggie over looking the capitole 

Albi 

Toulouse to Albi (blue dot to red pin)

The train station in Toulouse is only a 10 min. walk from our place - so easy! 

A rainy walk to the train 

Ready to ride! 

Wylie and Sofie taking charge with ordering the Fromage 

Indoor Market 

Another cute window in store pour enfantes - Maggie picked up a jelly cat chocaltine from here

The Airbnb - A four story home in an ancient medieval building  - no wifi, data, or TV. Living in the old days!  

Bonjour! (I couldn't get the Beauty and the Beast song out of my head all weekend!)

Our nook of a room - so cozy

62 stairs

A charming street 

La Cathedrale Sainte-Cecile d'Albi - The oldest brick Cathedral in the world built in the 1200's. The kids were tres impressed with the inside of the cathedral and all of its intricate detail. 

So tall and impressive! 

The inside! Every single space covered in ornate detail

 

The organ - this is only 1/10 of it...

Look up! 

Alter at the front under the organ - I liked the shadows being cast by the doves

look up again - underneath a multiteired, golden chandelier 

Exploring the town - we found a carnival that the kids loved 

The swing ride with a twist - people tried to pull this rope that was hanging off to the side from a pole. If you succeed, you win a big stuffed animal! We saw a group of guys in their 20's make it happen - everyone was cheering! 

Getting ready for launch 

Some kind of fun house that the kids loved

Hanging in at the house to avoid the rain

Baguettes, Fromage, Beurre, et Vin 

Codenames with a cozy fire! 

We went to a local wine shop and told them what kind of cheese we had, the guy made suggestions for us based on that. Yummmmmmmmm! 

Exploring Albi and lunching at the indoor Marche

Walking along the river 

Quaint streets abound 

Garbage cans painted to blend in with the brick buildings - lol 

Dejeneur at the market 

His first eclaire 

Apricot tart 

A smattering of food and, of course, Rose

Duck sandwich 

Seafood stall 

Wax tips on the pears??

Artichokes always looking so pretty 

More views of seafood for sale - there's so many options!

Adult dinner out at La Forge du Viele Alby - They had different menus to choose from that had an entree, plate, and dessert. We sipped on some local digestifs apres dinner - a full French experience. 

Loving getting fancy in France 

Sunday Morning - a local band playing near the cathedral and a final group pic before we headed out on the 12:00 train back to Toulouse. 

This is soap! We've experienced this in a couple of restaurant bathrooms - kind of strange. It's always mounted to the wall next to the sink. I thought it was decor (an old bike horn?)  the first time I saw it - haha. 

The local band - everyone's dressed up like birds??

Group shot!