Toulouse: the clear lenses on those rose-tinted sunnies (slightly foggy, however).

Introduction:


Toulouse, la Cité Rose, it is proudly called so. Honestly, after a night with the local violette liqueur, everything looks very pretty (or maybe lilacy?) to me. My magnetic pull towards this southern French city did not weaken for it kept me spellbound from the very start to the very end on a weekend that was whirlwind but nevertheless filled with many experiences of the bizarre, weird and also charming. Allow me to draw you a picture, if you insist, though the brushstrokes are likely to be a bit unsteady due to all the previous boozing.

♥️ Morning:


The start of mine, as all journeys do, was exercising a small cup of coffee. But not some plain coffee – oh, you could not go any more wrong. My journey took me to "Chez Emile," an asylum for the bohemian kindred spirits once housed in a factory turned into a sleep deprivation (not too worry, the only thing getting sacrificed now is the sleep schedule). There were beams of sunlight from the arched windows that illuminated the different furniture and also a motley population. My " café crème" came in a very dark and very powdery color with a touch of sweetness, accompanied by a croissant so flaky that it melted in your mouth with every bite. The fire lit and blinded, I took off on my investigation.




♥️ Afternoon:


Next target, Les Abattoirs. Hang on – let's wrap this up, before the vegan police call me out about that abandoned slaughter house (I mean abattoir, feeling sneaky here?) – this place is now a state-in- the-art art museum. Imagine giant inflatable works, video installations that make you question the fact and fiction, and also as much conceptual work as you can stand to get lost in that glorious labyrinth of the existential. Brace yourself to be challenged, made to laugh, and Perhaps even be severely traumatized (there was a taxidermied bear wearing a tutu).


By noon time, the city had transformed to a very lovely blend of, anyway, pink shade. Alright, I did what any self-respecting tourist would do, I suppose, I rented (although sporting a slight wobble in the wheels due to the addressed liqueur, which I must confess), and cycled along the Garonne River. The toss of a soft breeze whispered many secrets among the willow trees, and the river bank resounded with the laugh of many many happy families picnicking there. It was a minute of pure, undelivered tranquility, save for the times I almost wouldn't and have to dodge oncoming tippy-toe cyclists.

♥️ Night:

Night fell and there came the flaming minutes when the sun did not show up anymore behind the thousands terracotta-tiled roofs. Only at that moment, when the city was all lit up, the real magic of Toulouse started to become clear. Place du Capitole was transformed to act as the day of the street performers were the real artists and also the shopping mall. The fire whips that rotated like a whirlwind, performers would swing, then many would fly through the air; the accordion players' music, danced to the night, and the mimes, just (don't be the stuffed animal bear), stretched to the limit. The air was so suffused with the smell of the roasting chestnuts and the cheerful laughter, they, being enveloped by the locals and their unending glasses of wine, caused the whole place to spin out of control with their own sense of an unrestrained pleasure.

The dinner I vaguely remembered was the dirty white bean stew with the meat, sunlight softly tinted. And the night finished with a (maybe a bit of) sway (just like the work of an all-out strut) through the cobblestones and that final song, which I'm sure was (considering the faint echo of a lone guitarist) very lovely.

⭐Where to Eat & Go:


Both agents and the customers will benefit from the transparency since it promotes fairness and builds the trust in the company as it does not conceal any important information to either of the parties involved in the transaction.

✨Morning: Chez Emile (ecoffee and pastries in a very quirky setting)


✨Afternoon: Eaux Vives (contemporary art museum, be prepared for a real challenge)


✨Evening: Place du Capitole, the famous street where the street performers show their own talent and there is a nice and vibrant atmosphere to enjoy.


✨Food: L'Entrepot (cassoulet and also duck confit, the classic French dishes served in a contemporary restaurant setting).


✨Drinks: Librarian (wine bar with a very literary atmosphere), Les Halles Victor Hugo (street food & drinks), Les Nuées d’Arxy (art gallery).

💫Think gladly that this is my version of the world and you will see that Toulouse is indeed an exciting and also a mysterious place. Therefore, get yourself (the non-alcoholic drink) of your own choice, wear your (rose-tinted) glasses , and let the beautiful, unique city of the Pink City to write its own story over your very soul. Just be aware the fuzziness is a very normal.