On our last full day in Toulouse, we left the apartment early.  Everything here is very quiet until mid morning, and we enjoy the peaceful streets and the cooler temperatures.  An extensive fresh fruit and veggie market was in full swing as we walked to Jeanne d’Arc metro, crossed the road, and entered the Capitole district.

Toulouse is of course known as The Pink City, but nowhere is this more evident than here.  Many buildings are constructed from rose coloured brick, and the streets are paved with rose tinted stones.  This is the area with the grandest buildings, including the St Sernin Basilica, the Jacobite Convent, and the Capitole building and central square. It is also a maze of laneways, fun to explore with so few people about. The gargoyle count definitely got a boost this morning.

We found ourselves at Port de la Daurade, the historic port that nowadays is the place to board a bateaux for a canal cruise.  We did exactly that, and spent a relaxing hour on the Garonne, then entering the Canal de Brienne via the St Pierre Lock.  The water level either side of the steel gates is only about 10 cm different, so it doesn’t take long to move through, and up into the canal.  Lined with plane trees the old towpaths, we noticed the narrowboats here are much larger than English ones; presumably the canals are more navigable.

We turned around at the Ponts Jumeaux, a basin where three canals meet. If we’d turned hard right, we could have continued along the Canal du Midi, all the way to Sete on the Mediterranean. If we’d continued on the Garonne, we’d have ended up in Bordeaux and beyond, all the way to the Bay of Biscay.  But alas, we turned around and went back the way we came.  We had lovely views and reflections of the Pont Neuf and the Hopital La Grave.

By the time the cruise finished at midday, the temperature was bakingly hot.  We had lunch plans, and luckily our little gluten free creperie, Pastel et Sarrasin, was air conditioned inside.  We both ordered a galette with chicken, peanut sauce, sauteed onion, and a sweet potato mousseline.  Yes, it was as good as it sounds.  Delicious.

After a couple of long tiring days, we decided to call a halt early to our sightseeing.  Southern and central Europe is under a prolonged heatwave, and there is no immediate relief in sight until we get further north.  We have to be measured about what we do and how much time we spend outside and on our feet.  We have revised some plans accordingly for the upcoming cruise – the only way to cope is to be out and about as early as possible, and be finished by early afternoon.

Our time in Toulouse has flown by, and we’ve enjoyed it despite the heat.  It’s a very early start in the morning for a flight from here to Rome, via Madrid.  Then on to Civitavecchia the following day, to board Norwegian Viva and begin sailing to Trieste.