Finally! Traveling to France!

We left JFK last night and had an uneventful trip to France.  We changed planes in Paris and then flew to Toulouse. 

At Paris airport (above) and view of Paris terminal (below)

 From Toulouse we had a short bus ride to our hotel.  Before we got on, David asked the driver if he stopped at Jeanne D’Arc (he did) and then confirmed it a little later.  As we got to that street, there is an automatic announcement and we got up and grabbed our suitcases.  However, we didn’t know we had to push a button to request a stop, so the guy just kept going, about another 10 blocks to the next stop.  I think he did it on purpose.  So France, you’re already not being nice.  Hopefully the rest of the country will make up for it!

Walking to our hotel from the bus

Outside our hotel - Hotel Raymond IV

Inside our hotel

We easily found and checked into our hotel, Raymond IV.  It’s adequate, nothing fancy.  But it has all the things we need – a comfy bed, wifi, breakfast in the morning and a better shower than we have at home! 

Next, we headed to the train station to buy our tickets for tomorrow morning  and it’s a good thing we did cause there were at least 25 people waiting ahead of us!  Lastly, we stopped for some food.  Then we headed over to the Place de Capitol, a large open square where the town hall is.  I had three or four places that were recommended to see.  We wandered around and, kind of accidently, managed to see all of them!

Walking to train station (above) and waiting for them to call us to buy our tickets (below)

After walking all over Toulouse, we came back to the hotel to relax.  Now we have to decide if we want to go back out and get some dinner or just call it a night! 

Scenes in a park we walked through (above and next two pictures)

Place du Capitole

Ceilings in the square at Place du Capitole

Face on a building

Stained glass windows in Basilique de St. Sernin (picture doesn't do them justice)

Gargoyle on the Basilique de St. Sernin

By the River La Garonne near Place de la Daurade

Not sure what they were going to do

Les Jacobins - The labyrinth of narrow streets in old Toulouse (above and below)

Our light dinner of tapas and crepes