Top Diaries

I'll see what I can come up with in terms of suggestions for where to go, and if you and afew do the same on your side, we can have a consensual meet-up!

by Alex in Toulouse on Thu Mar 2nd, 2006 at 05:19:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I'll be there with whatever jam samples are left over. I won't be wearing sunglasses and chain-smoking as Alex says. I'll probably have my head stuck in a jam-jar.

Perhaps Alex might have a suggestion for a place for lunch. I suspect he knows Toulouse better than I do from that point of view.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Thu Mar 2nd, 2006 at 04:52:18 PM EST

If we want to have a jam-testing session, then we can do it on the banks of the Garonne, or in the Jardin des Plantes. If we want to have a real lunch, then it's a different matter altogether.

by Alex in Toulouse on Thu Mar 2nd, 2006 at 05:24:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Well we have to have jam tasting unless everyone's stock has run out by then. On the other hand jam for lunch is not enough but pique nique on the banks of the Garonne or some other nice spot is an option as long as there is a place to get good sandwiches and pastries. Then again if it's pouring rain I'd rather be inside for a good lunch. So many options....

by Alexandra in WMass (alexandra_wmass[a|t]yahoo[d|o|t]fr) on Thu Mar 2nd, 2006 at 09:50:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

OK, so this would be our OPTION 1) :

On June 17th it'll be full blown summer, with temperatures around 32 celcius (90 fahrenheit) ... and the banks of the Garonne near la Daurade, for example, have places with grass to lie on, and are invaded by hundreds of people/groups of people with guitars, books, beers, etc

It'll be more open than any restaurant we can find, and there will be plenty of food stalls and restaurants doing takeaway food within a hundred meters.

Also, rain is nearly inexistant in summer in Toulouse:
(look for the little green rectangles in the pic below)

Oh my god, have I suddenly started working for the Toulouse tourism agency, listen to me I'm being all persuasive, what's wrong with me ;))

Anyhow, this was only OPTION 1), I'll come up with OPTION 2) when I come back home tonight, and we can take it from there. We need a consensus!

by Alex in Toulouse on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 02:25:15 AM EST
[ Parent ]

For OPTION 2) I'll consult with someone I know here who is gourmet-oriented and will know the tastiest restaurants in town (I don't go to the restaurant very often, and even less often for lunch, but this guy will know). Maybe you've been to a few you liked yourself, afew?

Then for OPTION 3) I could recommend the rowdiest/liveliest places in town.

OPTION 4) the ones with the best view.

OPTION 4) the seediest.

OPTION 5) the most exotic.

hehehe ok I've got to go and take a quick shower, see you all later

by Alex in Toulouse on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 02:29:29 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Great options! So much to choose from. Since you have train station manager connections and you came up with the rainfall graph I assume you have the good connections with the weather manager and will be able to persuade them that June 17th must be sunny and warm so option #1 continues to sound great to me.

But now I'm in a quandary, I'd like to know what options 2,3,4,4 and Toulouse exotica are like.

I leave the it for the group consensus.

by Alexandra in WMass (alexandra_wmass[a|t]yahoo[d|o|t]fr) on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 08:34:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Météo France headquarters are in Toulouse, so they generally swing fine weather for home base. They make it rain in, oh, say, Bordeaux.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 09:56:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Like you, Alex, I don't often lunch in town, so I haven't got an up-to-date list of good restaurants to choose from. Option (1) sounds great to me, especially if I get chased by a friendly dog.

Unless this dog wants the jam. <worried frown> Did he tell you?

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 09:54:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

I'll bring some dog treats to trade for the jam, just in case dogs get the upper hand.

by Alexandra in WMass (alexandra_wmass[a|t]yahoo[d|o|t]fr) on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 10:03:06 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Was that first photo meant to tempt me specifically? :-)

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Thu Mar 2nd, 2006 at 05:25:49 PM EST

Of course! I actually found a whole site just for you: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rubio.eric/garede.htm and http://perso.wanadoo.fr/rubio.eric/ Enjoy!

by Alexandra in WMass (alexandra_wmass[a|t]yahoo[d|o|t]fr) on Thu Mar 2nd, 2006 at 09:34:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Mrs Lupin and I (and dog Maggie) would love to attend, if it's OK.

I've pencilled it in.

One of the nice things is, with such a big crowd, we should be able to detect any FBI plants easily. :-)

by Lupin on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 02:35:23 AM EST

Hurrrrah, glad to (hopefully) see you there!!!

And if you have some good OPTIONS to propose then please do.

Ok, time for me to run, for now.

by Alex in Toulouse on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 02:55:37 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Ok, still here, just waiting for my pick-p, wait for it, wait for it, come on now, wait for it ... ding dong? No ding dong?

by Alex in Toulouse on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 03:06:21 AM EST
[ Parent ]

ding dong? anyone home?

by Alexandra in WMass (alexandra_wmass[a|t]yahoo[d|o|t]fr) on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 08:22:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

We've only been to Toulouse twice, plus once to the airport at Blagnac.

There was a restaurant across the street from HSBC right in the town center, close to an underground carpark under a church, that was both inexpensive and not bad at all. I'd go there again.

Sadly I could go there again, but I can't recall its name.

by Lupin on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 09:59:50 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Terrific! I had no idea you were in the area until Whataboutbob mentioned it yesterday.

by Alexandra in WMass (alexandra_wmass[a|t]yahoo[d|o|t]fr) on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 08:21:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Great! Now I realize who the dog Alex has me being chased by is!

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 10:02:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Great photos...now I REALLY have to go visit there...

"Once in awhile we get shown the light, in the strangest of places, if we look at it right" - Hunter/Garcia

by whataboutbob on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 11:10:57 AM EST

I'd love to come. Not sure yet that I can make it if I go to Las Vegas as planned on the previous week-end (for YearlyKos) but I'd love to.

The only time I ever was in Toulouse, I walked around the city in my underpants as part of the "initiation" fun of my school. It looked like a lovely city.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Fri Mar 3rd, 2006 at 01:03:28 PM EST