The largest organ in France belongs to St.Cecile in Albi. The place was built in 1100 and kept being adjusted. The whole Old Albi looks great bordering the river. It was a religious centre for hundreds of years so that's why the buildings are so special. Most are made of red brick. Being in Albi and getting to Albi were 2 different experiences.
This morning it was misty rain and cool. I got out of Toulouse without too many problems but within 2 hours, I was wet and chilled. I could see my breath and I'm guessing it was 7-8 degrees. It was warmer in Canada! I stopped at a grocery store and shivered as I ate my chocolate buns with milk. It was tough to get on that bike but I was making good time. I'm noticing that Hedgehogs seem to be the road kill of choice here. There's always one or two along the road.
I pulled into McDos to check email because they and the tourist offices turn off their wifi when the stores are closed when I checked early this morning. No lodging for Albi today so it might be a guerrilla camping night. I managed to select a seat beside a outlet and charged up the phone. This is starting to be a rare thing to be able to do. I had made good time and only had another 20 km to go. I would be there by lunch. Well, as often happens, I got off-centre by lunch. I'm noticing that lots of standards get covered here (Queen, Acdc, Grorge Michael) but are done by various groups of singers. Big bad but it makes you want to get the original. So, I tried to hack my way through the city of Gallic which I did but I wasn't 100 percent sure it wasn't a bit farther. Sure enough, about 10 km firm the road, the Albi sign pops up again but I end up getting on the highway before getting on a slower street.
Made it into the town of Albi and love the Latrec museum. My mom had a basest hound named Toulouse so I got her his dog painting postcard. The gardens around St.Cecile were cool as was the view of the bridges and the old city across the river. The exhibits of his paintings were also varied. I think I like his horse paintings best as well as his Moulin Girls. Can't wait to stroll around Montmartre.
If I was impressed by yesterday's church, today's was completely off the charts. The whole thing was painted. It had the original work on the ceilings and not a unpainted spot existed. The organ was massive! It makes the one from yesterday my 2nd favourite organ now. Woody Allen has a good line about the brain being his 2nd favourite organ. :)
I am quite happy at this spontaneous trip up here and start looking for food and shelter. Tomorrow is Labour Day and nothing is open. It will make for great bike riding. I see a sign that says camping and try to follow the signs but sure enough, they disappear. I cut through the park looking for something secluded. A closed swimming pool looks promising but as I go farther, I see a group of guys playing soccer and sitting around on picnic tables and decide not to chance anything. I climb out if the park and the campground is right there! It looks fancy and I ask doubtfully if they have tent parking. The lady responds that they do. At 15 Euros, it's a bit steep but today is payday so I splurge. I take a spot under an elevated cabin as the clouds look threatening. The shower is wonderful as always and I get taken for a few more Euros in the cafe where they charge 3 Euros for a tea! Robbery! Dinner is a baguette and a 1/2 block of Camenbert Cheese. Delicious! t'll be nice to go to sleep early without worrying about being assaulted in the night. Lined up a spot for Carcassonne tomorrow. Even sent a few missives for spots further down the road. I think I'm going through some mountains tomorrow. Next spots on the itinerary are Sete, Montpellier, Nice. I think I'm cruising past Cannes while the festival is on too. A good day.
This morning it was misty rain and cool. I got out of Toulouse without too many problems but within 2 hours, I was wet and chilled. I could see my breath and I'm guessing it was 7-8 degrees. It was warmer in Canada! I stopped at a grocery store and shivered as I ate my chocolate buns with milk. It was tough to get on that bike but I was making good time. I'm noticing that Hedgehogs seem to be the road kill of choice here. There's always one or two along the road.
I pulled into McDos to check email because they and the tourist offices turn off their wifi when the stores are closed when I checked early this morning. No lodging for Albi today so it might be a guerrilla camping night. I managed to select a seat beside a outlet and charged up the phone. This is starting to be a rare thing to be able to do. I had made good time and only had another 20 km to go. I would be there by lunch. Well, as often happens, I got off-centre by lunch. I'm noticing that lots of standards get covered here (Queen, Acdc, Grorge Michael) but are done by various groups of singers. Big bad but it makes you want to get the original. So, I tried to hack my way through the city of Gallic which I did but I wasn't 100 percent sure it wasn't a bit farther. Sure enough, about 10 km firm the road, the Albi sign pops up again but I end up getting on the highway before getting on a slower street.
Made it into the town of Albi and love the Latrec museum. My mom had a basest hound named Toulouse so I got her his dog painting postcard. The gardens around St.Cecile were cool as was the view of the bridges and the old city across the river. The exhibits of his paintings were also varied. I think I like his horse paintings best as well as his Moulin Girls. Can't wait to stroll around Montmartre.
If I was impressed by yesterday's church, today's was completely off the charts. The whole thing was painted. It had the original work on the ceilings and not a unpainted spot existed. The organ was massive! It makes the one from yesterday my 2nd favourite organ now. Woody Allen has a good line about the brain being his 2nd favourite organ. :)
I am quite happy at this spontaneous trip up here and start looking for food and shelter. Tomorrow is Labour Day and nothing is open. It will make for great bike riding. I see a sign that says camping and try to follow the signs but sure enough, they disappear. I cut through the park looking for something secluded. A closed swimming pool looks promising but as I go farther, I see a group of guys playing soccer and sitting around on picnic tables and decide not to chance anything. I climb out if the park and the campground is right there! It looks fancy and I ask doubtfully if they have tent parking. The lady responds that they do. At 15 Euros, it's a bit steep but today is payday so I splurge. I take a spot under an elevated cabin as the clouds look threatening. The shower is wonderful as always and I get taken for a few more Euros in the cafe where they charge 3 Euros for a tea! Robbery! Dinner is a baguette and a 1/2 block of Camenbert Cheese. Delicious! t'll be nice to go to sleep early without worrying about being assaulted in the night. Lined up a spot for Carcassonne tomorrow. Even sent a few missives for spots further down the road. I think I'm going through some mountains tomorrow. Next spots on the itinerary are Sete, Montpellier, Nice. I think I'm cruising past Cannes while the festival is on too. A good day.