Le bonheur est dans le pré, happiness is in the field! The Gers department, pronounced jerce, borders Haute Garonne to the west/north west and is home to many delightful things particular to SW France. We decided to take my parents to Condom on their visit last autumn. I hadn’t seen much of the Gers before…Read more »
Tag: history
Jazz in Occitanie part 1
My dad is a huge opera fan; he’s especially crazy about Italian opera. My mum loves classical music too; she used to play the piano very well. My brother and I took up playing violin and piano quite early on but I would be a liar if I said I tried very hard. Not unlike…Read more »
The Pech Merle Cave
Prehistoric cave paintings. Abbé Breuil, renowned French prehistorian called it “the Sistine Chapel of the Causses of the Lot district, one of the most beautiful monuments in Paleolithic pictoral art”. Honestly, since I have been living in the south of France I have seen a cave or two but I have never seen anything like…Read more »
Le Gouffre de Padirac
Posted by in music, occitanie, Toulouse, Uncategorized “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing” – Helen Keller. Or was it “Life is a great adventure or nothing”? In any case, life should be an adventure. For most of us, travelling is a great adventure, and sometimes a daring one. Whether you are trekking through the mountains, horseback riding on the beach,…Read more »
Rocamadour
Posted by in culture, occitanie, Uncategorized A stunning village perched on a cliff in the bountiful Lot. The Lot department, once of Midi Pyrenees and now of Occitanie is a place of great natural beauty. Around the Lot valley there are spectacular caves to visit including the Gouffre de Padirac and the Grotte de Pech Merle. The main city is Cahors,…Read more »
Via Garona
Posted by in Haute Garonne, occitanie, Toulouse click for music – by Basquing Spring is here and it is time for hiking and biking! The GR 861 hiking trail connects the sites of Saint-Jacques de Compostelle between the stunning Basilica Saint-Sernin in Toulouse and the majestic cathedral of Saint Marie in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges. Known as ‘la Via Garona’, the route runs along the river…Read more »
Aigues Mortes
Posted by in occitanie, travel, Uncategorized In the heart of the Camargue Gardoise is the medieval city called Aigues-Mortes. In an unusual and lovely area of Occitanie is the impressive walled city, rich in heritage and culture. For information about the Camargue click here If you are travelling around the seemingly endless Languedoc coast and need a break from the beach this…Read more »
Toulouse-Jolimont
Posted by in occitanie, Toulouse, Uncategorized Jolimont – Reflections from above. A walk………… To the east of the historical centre of Toulouse is a hillside neighbourhood called Jolimont, not far from where I live. For visitors to Toulouse there are a couple of unique places of interest around Jolimont. The cemetery Terre-Cabade et Salonique and the Parc de l’Observatoire. If you…Read more »
Toulouse – Up in the Air
Posted by in culture, occitanie, Toulouse, Uncategorized Much of the growth and vibrancy in the city of Toulouse is to do with the aerospace industry. In and around the former region of Midi Pyrenees around 80,000 people, including me, make a living from the aviation industry. Toulouse is home to a number of important aerospace related companies, including Airbus and the European Space…Read more »
Mountain Therapy: Bagnères de Luchon
Posted by in Haute Garonne, occitanie, travel A cure for the winter blahs! Do you feel tired and worn out this time of year? Are you wondering how you will get everything done before the holidays? Do you eagerly anticipate Christmas or does it lurk in the distance like a dark cloud of impending doom. With the approach of a long cold…Read more »
