On the way Home

I spent this morning re-packing my bag. Last night I spent a bit of time, working out how I could fit all my stuff into one bag so that I wouldn't have to worry about excess baggage. I had two things making this difficult.
1st - As I brought two bags with me, I needed to put one into the other. I hadn't accounted for the weight of that bag. So even though I had room for all my stuff, it was too heavy.
2nd - I have six bottle of French wine to take home. I thought that I had it sorted last night, the answer was to carry five of the six bottles has hand luggage.

So this morning as I was having a shower before going down to Breakfast, it suddenly hits me - I can't take liquids on an international flight in my carry on. So now my big suit case has a slightly smaller suitcase inside it, + six bottles of wine and not much else. My carry on is now full of clothes.

I drop the car back at Airbus, and catch the Airbus shuttle to the airport. I am going to be spending a bit of time at the airport, so I'm glad I have my iPad to keep me entertained.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:11582m above France

Albi

After a late start ( to allow the effects of last night wear off) I drove to the medieval town of Albi. I went with one of the Emirate pilots that are staying at the hotel next door. His name is Mark and is from New Plymouth.

The drive up was quick and easy thanks to the toll roads. You really feel like you are in some sort of racing car game as the roads are smooth and fast.

We parked in the underground carpark and once out we were in the middle of a square, which had kids playing in the water fountain. It was very hot, and I did feel like stripping off and joining them, but I'm not too sure the locals would have approved.




We made our way through the narrow streets to the huge cathedral that is made out of brick. It is the biggest brick cathedral in the world.







We kept walking seeking shade as we went as it was soo hot. The town is on the banks of the river Tarn. There are three wonderful old bridges that go across it, one was built in 1040.




With the towers of the Berbie Palace, it looked very Fairy tale like. I will have to make sure that I bring P here




The views from the other side of the river were stunning. If it is this impressive, now, then it must have been even more so a thousand years ago.



Being so hot, and having walked around for quite a while, I thought that I deserved an ice cream or should I say Gelato.



The food in France is amazing and I'm sure I have put on weight. This is a lolly shop that was full of the most amazing treats.

Location:Albi .

L'Entrecote

I'm having diner in the most unusual restaurant. I had a look at the menu outside, and assumed that it was the Specials as it only had one dish on it -Steak. I had heard that there was a restaurant down this way that served good steak, but there was always a que to get it, so this can't be the place.

I decide to go in. A lady in red, greets me and holds up one finer and says un - yes table for one. I wait for the menu, they bring me some water. I wait a bit more for the menu, they bring me a salad. Ok looks like I'm having a salad. It seems that no one will come near me until i have finished my salad. Finally a waitress in yellow comes over, " how do you want it cooked?" So that wasn't the Specials, that was it! As I look around, I notice that, yes everyone is having steak. But some are having fancy steak that is served on a raised silver platter, heated by two candles. What happens if I want to try that as well.

I look up and there it is -the que. There are about a dozen people out side waiting to get in. You think that with the que they would be in a hurry to get you your meal. But not so. Once you are in, they look after you. I like that.

It turns out the salad only served the purpose to make you not feel guilty of having just steak and chips. Because that is all it is. Here is my meal.




As you can see, I got a steak on my plate and one on the plater as well! It is very nice, but not the nicest steak I have ever had. It comes cut up for you. It is done just right, rare - I asked for medium, as I have already found rare means raw.

The que outside is huge now, well over 30 people. The people at the front now took nearly 20 mins to get there!

I order my dessert. I use the new App on my iPad and it fails me. I order what my iPad tells me is a under the heading of ice cream, a chocolate house, but it turns out to be chocolate cake. I apologies to the waitress, and together we work out what I want.




The que has died down a bit now.

I was going to bike around until I found a restaurant, but the bike stand near the hotel was empty. The one near the restaurant is full.



These are bikes you can hire. For a week it cost €5 or €25 for a year. The first half hour is free, then it is 50 cents per half hour after that. I'm glad I didn't bike as I am soo full I need to walk it off. I'm not use to seeing all the homeless, drunks on the street and I feel nervous with my iPad in hand. I reflect that, that was yet another 3 cooked meal day. Well at least I didn't have a big lunch though, I had Fish and ....oh yeah, chips. Let's not talk about what I had for breakfast. I looked in the mirror this morning and was motivated to go the Hotel gym. Looks like I'd better go tomorrow as well.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Boulevard de Strasbourg, Toulouse.