We had a great dinner at le Bebent this past July. Toulouse is one of my "top 3" cities in France.

Stu Dudley

Hi Stu,

Catherine told me it is Bibent!! She sent me a great brochure and I did read some things on another post re some sights to see. Tell me about some, if you can.

Was also looking for some input from Carlux as I know Toulouse has been a favorite of hers for many years.

a bientot...

Joan

See if you can get the Michelin Green Guide to Languedoc. Follow the walking itinerary in the guide. We've walked the route twice - most recently in July. We've visited Toulouse on 3 different occasions - staying overnight each time. There's lots of stuff to see in Toulouse. We spent about 2 hours doing the walk, and Ellen's feet gave out before we could complete it. We didn't go into any museums - we just admired the architecture, visited the Basilique St Sernin, pushed open doors into hidden courtyards (discreetly), and kept an eye on the "street scene". There are lots of very elegant shops in Toulouse. Don't miss the Foundation Bemberg/Hotel d'Assezat - the finest private mansion in Toulouse.

Can you change your flight plans and stay overnight? If you want to have breakfast & lunch at Bibent - you won't have enough time to visit this fantastic city thoroughly.

Stu Dudley

Joan,

Well their website says "Le Bibent" which was the name of the literary café which was on the site before it closed years ago. I commented on your last year's thread that I had lunch there once and keep meaning to get back.

TPAYT was just there, here's his thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/toulouse-the-dordognebased-in-sarlat-and-paris.cfm

I live less than an hour from Toulouse but Stu and TPAYT are better tour guides! The area behind the Capitole has been torn up for well over a year--re-doing a small park and re-paving the large pedestrian shopping street. That shouldn't get in your way as not much point to go to Galeries Lafayette, GAP, etc. in Toulouse!

The tourist sight-seeing boats on the Garonne and Canal du Midi won't be running but not a major loss. Sounds like I don't like Toulouse, actually I do, St Sernin is excellent.

Quite a long walk to the Easyjet departure gate so factor a bit of extra time for that. Moving sidewalks but usually at least on broken.

The Easyjet gate comment appkies to Orly, Toulouse is very easy.

Thanks for info. The brochure that was sent to me has 4 or 5 do it yourself walks and takes in those places that have been highly mentioned.

My flight gets in early, so breakfast will be early..and not heavy! I will then do some sight seeing...no real shopping. Will get back for lunch and take taxi from there to airport. This will not be a big sightseeing trip, but enough to put something together for others for something from Paris.

We are going to Reims for a weekend and I need to go to London for a few days..so I will be busy this trip with some gadding! Hope the weather cooperates and the flights too!!

a bientot..

Joan

You will be in the Capitole, a lovely square, so that's the first thing to see. Then you could walk up to Saint Sernin, which is not like other cathedrals, as it's in red brick - very typical of the south.

Then back down to the Jacobins, checking out the marvellous palm shaped pillars (you won't have time to see the cloisters), walk along the river, and then at the Pont Neuf, back in the see the outside of theHotel Azzezat (Fondation Bemberg) but again you wont have time to see the collection. The other side of Rue de Metz is also interesting with lots of narrow streets, cafes, wonderful houses if you can indeed open a few doors (discreetly)

Any of the walks in Michelin or other guides will probably cover these highlights, but it's not enough time to see very much. Perhaps just get a feel for the liveliness of Toulouse - it's a young and vigrant city.

We were there in APril http://cettesemaineacarlux.blogspot.fr/2012/04/une-petite-journee-toulouse-short-day.html
and again a few weeks ago. http://cettesemaineacarlux.blogspot.fr/2012/10/22-septembre-un-apres-midi-toulouse.html

I havent been to Le Bibent - we ate in the building some time ago, before it changed hands, and didn't much like it. Great room, although it was looking a bit worn then, food not great and service less so. Looks much improrved now!

Thank you for the information. I will take a look at wha you have said along with the brochure from Tourist Centre that Catherine sent with the 4 walks and see what's what. Will get it all worked out before going.

Carlux..you probaly ate there before Christian took it over. It should be very good now if Christian has trained them all!

Looking forward to it and what kind of trip it is back and forth from Paris. Others will be interested!

a bientot..

Joan

It Is very good and has retained the features of the original Le Bibent.

Hi joan---I've gotten so much good info from you on Paris, especially enjoy your food photos.

We were recently in Toulouse and really loved the area around Capitole Square. I see that Cathinjoetown posted my TR above(BTW, TPAYT is a "she" but how would you know that from my Fodors name) and I mentioned our breakfast at Le Bibent. Even though you will only be in Toulouse for a few hours you should be able to see quite a bit as everything is in close walking distance from Capitole Square.

Also, I must ask you a question. You gave me the info on how to pick out an individual photo on Photobucket and post it separately and it worked perfectly. Now they've updated their service and your previous directions no longer work. Any ideas?

I'll be watching for your TR on Toulouse as we would like to return.

i remember seeing a very moving memorial to the dead of the Languodoc in WW1 in St Sernin, i think.

we spent 2 nights in Toulouse and liked it a lot.

Hi TPAYT,

Glad you told me that Photobuckeet had changed. I am heding to Paris soon and will need it

I just went there and here is how to get one photo to enter here or anyplace.

go to the one you want and clik on the share box upper left..next to the one with the heart in it...that will give you a dropdown box..click on send email and go down to bottom and copy the address in the box, paste it and voila you have it. I often will paste them to a word doc first and click on them to test them. You are back in business!!

I will arrive in Toulouse early..should be a good day..if weather is good, too. Want to see what kind of trip it can be for a day trip from Paris..Orly airport for Easy Jet...

I am gearing up for my trip.
a bientot...Joan

Thanks Joan, I'll give it a try. I used that function often but couldn't figure out the new format.
Have a fun trip.

I have to say I'm hopeless. I tried it but it copied and pasted and then emailed the whole albulm instead of just the one photo I indicated.
The old format you gave me was so easy. Please let me know if it works for you.

TPAYT..

I just tried it...it does work. You must be doing the wrong place. Share from beneath the photo wanted or from above, depending what you have clicked on..drop down click box email and the address in the tiny box at very bottom of the page..copy and paste. It even says this above the box with the link in it:Want to send email from your own email program? Just include this link:

Paste o

a bientot...

Joan

Good luck with your trip. Unfortunatly the weater forecast is rain for the next few days, which is not the best way to see Toulouse

Hi Carlux,

I will not be leaving for Paris until the 19th of Nov, annual Thanksgiving at Violon!..and Toulouse will be Dec 1, so will see what the weather does then! Just cross my fingers!

I will begin watching it more closely soon.

a bientot...

Joan

Hi GraceJoan--We're "checking in" to Paris on the 21st. We wish you and your groupies so much fun with your Violon "Turkey Day".

We won't eat there until Saturday when we have our farewell dinner with college daughter (she only gets to stay in Paris for four nights this year as opposed to four months last year).

Anyway, a "Gobble,gobble" shout-out from us.
AZ

Did you go? How was it? We left France on 30 November and it was quite cool (not as cold as Munich, where the plane had to be de-iced) and we were glad to get to Cape Town. Didn't look too much like rain, though, which would be good.

Stu Dudley,

We expect to take a 2-hour drive to Toulouse next week to do some furniture shopping and, perhaps visit the Christmas Market. Could you make a hotel recommendation?

BTW, relocating to the Dordogne in June. Perhaps I will be able to match your expertise in 3 or 4 years.

Jeff

Hi,

Not Stu here but I can highly recommend the Hotel Albert Premier which is just off the Place Capitole where the Christmas market is set up. www.hotel-albert1.com

Rooms start at 79€ but I would recommend requesting a large double as some rooms are quite small.

Great location, very clean, friendly staff.

Upscale hotels right on the place are Le Grand Balcon and Grand Hotel de L'Opera.

We live an hour from Toulouse , stayed at the Albert 1er to get a "feel" for the city as it is now our closest urban center.

BTW, would love to hear about your furniture shopping, need new couches as our IKEA models are very uncomfortable.

We've stayed at the Mermoz twice. It is a couple of blocks outside of the "central" old city. They have parking available for guests.

Stu Dudley

Jeff - i'm not Stu either, but i can endorse the recommendation of the Albert 1, apart from its lack of paring.

OTOH it does serve an excellent breakfast!

The Albert 1er did offer discount parking at the Place Jeanne d'arc garage, maybe 200 metres from the hotel. Printemps Maison is located between the hotel and Place Jeanne d'arc.

thanks Cath - it turns out it doesn't lack "paring" either.

Thanks for the recommendations. We do not want to dedicate one of the bedrooms in the new home to guests, to the exclusion of other uses. To avoid that, we decided on a wall bed. Of course, our French was not good enough to make our needs clear. The search was frustrating until I finally figured out that I could find a translation of just about any product name by going to a Canadian web site. (I've since been dividing my time patting myself on the back for being so clever and hitting myself in the forehead for taking so long to figure that out.)

I then found that there were several dealers in "Lit Escomotable" in Toulouse. While we are closer to Bordeaux, there is only one dealer there, and we are thinking the variety, as well as the chance to visit the Christmas Market, will make the trip worthwhile.

I'll report on the results in January.

Jeff

A friend of mine in Florida has one of those--it's a bookcase/desk when closed up, then converts to double bed, very clever. There's also an Italian manufacturer that makes multipurpose furniture, a coffee table that converts to a dinner table, a sofa that converts to bunk beds, etc.

Of course there is a much trendier name than "convertible" and also can't remember the name of the Italian firm. Double senior moment.

Many furniture dealers in Muret, just south of Toulouse. We haven't really looked yet--very interested in your results.

Canadian website?

Jeff - there is a type of visual dictionary which consists of pictures of hundreds of everyday and household objects with their french/german/italian names. it's published by DK, and amazon have it for about £7. i'd post the link but it was too long. search for bi-lingual visual dictionary and it should come up.