Thursday, December 27, 2007
Old reflects against new
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Joyeux Anniversaire à La France Profonde
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Aligot Travels Well
Last Saturday, I happened to run into some happy Toulousains lunching on aligot, Aveyron's cheese and potato specialty, as they enjoyed the Christmas market on the Place du Capitole.
At first I wasn't absolutely sure what these Saturday shoppers were savoring, but a quick look around the market stands revealed potatoes and tomme fraîche all dressed up for the holidays:
I had hoped to get a closer look at the aligot operations, but couldn't break through the crowd at the highly popular stand. I guess aligot is a hit wherever it travels.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Big City Vitrines
Only a little over two weeks until Christmas! Santé!
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Going, going...
Last week, as I passed by on a damp, grey afternoon, the downtown institution wasn't looking so grand:
In fact, I'm wondering if it will ever be "GRAND" again:
I know. No need to press the panic button. Le Grand Hôtel Broussy is only being remodeled, and I'm sure it needs it.
Yet as I saw traces of its bright red past being tossed unceremoniously out its windows, I felt a wave of personal regret. I would never see it in all its delapidated glory.
Or could I glimpse at the interior, before it was too late?
I walked up toward the dusty lobby entrance, where a narrow door was, miraculously, open.
I dared to step in. The lobby was dirty and dreary, with a few pieces of wooden furniture strewn about. An immense dining or breakfast room lay to my right, bereft of furnishings.
Too quickly, a burly worker stomped down the main staircase. He looked at me. I scurried out.