Herding our group for a full day in carcassonne. We are up for breakfast and meet at lobby of hotel Heliot in Toulouse. Our group of 14 and Guide / CEO Francois 

When I ask travel buddies their input for this blogpost they responded “Nothing but highlights”. 

Took cab with Linda and Joan.  To fortress gate.   Found spacious toilet. Took half hour tram ride. The little train took us around the outer walls of the large fortress and there was English recorded tour information available and beautiful views. 

We met up with the group and did a short walk in through gate Narbonnoise. We met at the central restaurant area and enjoyed fabulous meal in such ancient surroundings. I had a large beefsteak tomato sliced and topped with a fresh buffalo mozzarella and tasty balsamic. Layered below rocket arugula. Tasty. Fresh and local. 

After the meal we walked the grounds and a lovely cathedral with ornate detailed stained glass windows. 

Back by taxi to the train station and return to Toulouse. Upon arrival I went with friends for a walk to see some shops including Pastel-plant  dyed products. We learned about the local plant leaves and flowers and the many products they produce and sell. Another local product of this area is violet. 

My aunt was able to get a ride on the carousel in town centre. Our small group of friends went to grocery store and picked up local rose wine, cheese and small grape tomatoes. Back to hotel for air conditioning, good conversation and much laughter. 

Good morning from Toulouse and the Local Living GAdventures tour. This day we start after continental breakfast with a History tour walking 

Following a Taste of Toulouse with Jessica as our local guide. She gave excellent explanations and showed us around the local covered market Victoria Hugo. We tasted lucques olives, and local aged cheeses. She demonstrated and let the group taste different breads and pastries. We enjoyed wine tasting and thanked her very much for the wonderful tour. It was a few hours and so enjoyable and culturally relevant. Highly recommend. 

Victor Hugo covered market hosts 75 vendors  and is open 6 am to 1 pm, 6 days a week, closed Mondays. It is a community gathering place and is bustling today. 

We left there, heading for a walk. We passed Two carousels in the city squares and a Ferris wheel. There is a river through town and a Pont Neuf. 

We spent a few hours doing laundry in the afternoon and then out to the recommended Bello and angelli for gelato and chocolate covered orange peels. The dark dark chocolate gelato was rich and delicious. I had with lime sorbet, small scoop of each in a dish. 

Many food establishment recommendations by Jessica who lives here these past 8 years or so with her partner. 

Franquette is a restaurant. Need reservations and can accommodate food allergies with notice. I am not sure we will try but good to share this information. 

High 30s temperatures are challenging here in south of France. The sun is hot and air stays warm most hours of the day. We were able to catch up on laundry today, pick up some local and market groceries and enjoy some air conditioning while the clothes air dried quickly in the hot sun. 

For dinner I suggested fine dining (haha) experience at Five Guys for French fries. Yummm. 4 of us walked over and devoured the very delicious food and laughter together. 

Ordinary moments made extraordinary today in this beautiful place. A feast in so many ways. Connection and relationships put high on the list. Good conversation and laughter. 

Walk through the town to the river at sunset. Pink sky. Sliver moon. Clouds moving through the sky. It’s a pretty evening and festive mood. I didn’t notice the bites I was getting as we listened to a single street performer sang some reggae and young people danced. Some cold white wine shared. Again conversation deep and touching, meaningful. We matter so much when we listen. 

Final game of the World Cup FIFA tonight, tv screens and crowds at some cafes and bars onto the streets. It’s a big deal.  (Spain won the tournament). The sound and excitement builds as last moments of play happen and we walk home to our hotel Heliot. 

12 Kms today and time for sleep. Bon soir. (Bona nuech in language of Occitan)

Packed up this morning and ready to taxi as a group at 7 am to Austerlitz train station to take a slow train through France to Toulouse. There we meet our GAdventures tour for next 7 days. Stay tuned. 

Gentle rocking of the regional train travelling through the French countryside. Past farmland, villages, fields of golden sunflowers, red terra cotta roofs, hay bales, assorted cows, waterways, rolling hills with green lush deciduous trees and crooked fruit trees lining yellow fields. Blue sky and white clouds. Air conditioning inside is welcome relief from the last three days in Paris heat. 

We had lots of laughs and good conversations on the 7 hour train ride. 

Arrived at Hotel Heliot, quaint family owned boutique hotel in Toulouse.   We met our tour leader (Francois is CEO) and had an orientation walk about. Then relaxing evening. Many of the group out for dinner. 

Tomorrow is a day in Toulouse checking out the local area. 

Today was hot. Wow. 

Woke up after a glorious sleep. Long. Deep. Air conditioned post flight and relaxed. Clean white crisp sheets at Hotel Marena. 9th Arrondissement in Paris France. The full day before us. 

Five of us met up and decided to walk a few kms towards Hotel de Ville along river Seine to catch the batobus for a day of sightseeing. We took longer than expected to get there but made it, purchased our tickets and enjoyed a full circle route and half. 

After that two took a taxi from the Louvre back to hotel to rest and three of us walked a few more hours through the Tuileries and beyond and then picked up some groceries before heading back to the hotel for a rest and to charge our devices before heading out again. 

Later we took Bateaux Mouches at 10 pm up and down the river enjoying the sky and city lights. 

We watched the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower ignite at 11 pm and hold our attention for the full five minutes. We caught an Uber back to the hotel and now big you good night. 

Ps. Just as we opened the uber car door the sky also opened up and huge large wet raindrops fell on us finally cooling us down. 

Gijon Spain 2 October 2025

Last night we attended a musical show after a beautiful sunset at dinner time. Then we watched a classic movie   A very fun flock of seagulls outside our window in the dark frolicking in the surf. 

Today slow starting as we prepare to have breakfast and head out to a Gijon Spain, with a history of apple cider making, Cabrales cheese, fish, limestone caves and caverns. Lots of free activities offered and a great visitor map showing where we can explore today. 

First site is huge sandy beach next door to bus stop and modern town.  

3200 cider bottles made into a tree shaped sculpture. There is a mix of old architecture and beautiful buildings next to new and needing work. A little of everything as we walk along the pedestrian walkway around the sea and marina. We find the old town and snap few more pics of unusual buildings. It’s like a beach town. 

We walked a bit through town street and in a central market is a demonstration with lots of police presence. 

We take the opportunity to put our bare feet in the sea and enjoy the cool gentle surf and sandy beach. 13,000 steps today. Our last port stop before the cruise ends. 

Locals say today was the one day of the year that did not rain. Haha. So lucky we had hot and sunny into the mid 20 degrees. 

Back on shuttle and having a nibble at Waves before tea time. Then entertainment before dinner. 

Goodnight. Tomorrow is a sea day then disembarkation in Lisbon. The cruise about to end. 

Waking up the first day of October on the sea offshore Spain. Pink colouring in the sky in early morn, the rest is blue. We passed metal tall windmills twirling and they are attached to the breakwater. Parked now at the port city of Bilbao Spain. We will do a walkabout. 

After breakfast we take the complimentary bus shuttle into Bilbao. There are choices and we consult with tourist information representative at the port. we decide to take a long walk along the river Bilbao. Past parks and lots of random sculptures. 

Tree tops changing colour. Palm trees. Walking along river towards old town. Bridges. Some local artists, others selling knock off street wares.  Sculpture. Benches. Basketball hoops. Walking. Walking. Walking. Pass the Guggenheim museum and see lots of our fellow passengers along the way. Over 12 Kms in total today. Across the river is the old town. We go there and take pictures mostly of architecture. I will try to add photos when I get home and the wifi complies. While on the ship I post my photos on Facebook when I can. 

We cross back across the river and through the main modern street toward our shuttle stop we catch a bus back to the ship, grab some lunch and have a swim in the salt water pool. I think it was 22-23 degrees today, plenty warm. 

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