Carcassonne, France

A daytrip from Toulouse, Carcassonne is a bit of a tourist trap, and yet, it was so fun getting trapped. Yes, the streets are lined with kitschy souvenirs and families walk around with plastic swords and knight’s gear, but it’s worth the trip. The enclosed village of Carcassonne houses medieval streets classified by UNESCO. The castle is amazing and a tour leads you through the halls and rooms. Everything is themed to knights and jousting, and the festivals there are supposedly fantastic. I’d love to go back in the summer to experience the jousting competitions, the castle lit up in red at night, the bull festival and the crazy men who joust on boats in the water. I only spent a day here but walking within the pristinely preserved medieval walls was well worth it.

Read my article on the city here.

Photo: The Viscount's Castle at night, July 15th

Toulouse, France

My first impression of Toulouse was experienced through frustration and lack of sleep. I had taken the overnight train from Paris and, unlike any other trains I’ve taken in France, this ride was horrible. I couldn’t sleep because I had to go to the washroom, but most were out of order and the others were in such a gross state, I couldn’t bring myself to actually use them. The ride lasted over 7 hours of excruciating hell. I arrived in Toulouse in the very early morning while it was still waking up. After checking in at the hotel, which of course wasn’t ready for me until the afternoon, I was refreshed with some tea and breakfast in their lounge. The rest of my few days here were much better, visiting the St-Sernin church, Le Pont Neuf, Place de Capitole (where all of the action takes place) and all of the exquisite hôtels particuliers. The city has a young vibe, as it’s filled with university students. The buildings are typical of the area, with wrought iron balconies in all different colours. I highly recommend the Hôtel Mermoz, who kindly hosted me for my stay.

Photo: St-Sernin Church at night

Read my article about the city here.