~ Sunday, November 17
I just left Toulouse. I am on the train heading to Marseille. I have not updated what I did over the last couple of days, so I will give you some updates.
Over the weekend, the mornings were very active.
On Saturday, I went running with the host. I was planning to go alone, but he said he would like to join. He guided me to some gardens for our warm-up. In one of the gardens, we started running faster individually. I was surprised by how fast he was. He is in his 50s, and I could barely keep up with his pace. Since I came here, I have been impressed by how young he and his wife feel.
After about 50 minutes of running, we came back and jumped into the cold water in the pool. It was very cold, but I felt great afterward.
In the afternoon, I went to get a haircut because my hair was so long that it was annoying. He made an appointment for me at the hair salon his son used to go to. After getting my hair cut short, we wandered around the city of Toulouse. I realized that I had become very familiar with the city’s geography.
At 6 o’clock, we went to a music concert. His wife had booked the tickets at the beginning of this year, but she had to go to Paris for work, so I could attend in her place. I hadn’t gone to a music concert for a while. There was someone narrating and explaining things in French during the concert, so I couldn’t understand it. If I had understood French, I think the experience would have been even better.
After the concert finished, he and I went to have dinner. I told him I hadn’t had pizza in France yet, so he took me to a restaurant known for good pizza. We sat on the terrace, which I had never tried since coming here. Regardless of the season, the temperature was warm, so there were many people outside. I’m sure French people love eating outdoors no matter the temperature.
I ordered a pizza called “Bye Bye American Dreams” (I think that was the name). I was simply intrigued by it. He ordered a pasta plate. When the food came, the pizza was massive, but it tasted amazing. I think it was better than any pizza I had in the US. I managed to finish it.
While we were talking and eating, we realized it was already five minutes before 9 PM—the time when the rugby game we wanted to watch would start. So we quickly left the restaurant and started running to get to a bar. Inside the bar, it was so crowded that the server could barely carry the food. When the players sang their national anthems, all the customers in the bar sang along with the TV. It was astonishing.
It was too crowded inside, so we decided to go home to watch the game on TV. France won against Fiji. I can imagine that the atmosphere inside the bar must have been incredible. I went to bed right after the game.
On Sunday, we decided to go cycling. I had never tried long-distance cycling before, so I was a little nervous at first. He explained how to use the bike in about three minutes, and then we started. I struggled with riding the new bike, and the posture I had to maintain was painful for my lower back.
We reached a mountain area and began riding up and down the hills. He told me there would be five climbs. On the first one, it was hard to keep up with him because my lower back kept getting worse. At the top of the first hill, I told him about it, and he adjusted the seat height, which eventually relieved the pain.
The scenery in the mountains was stunning—quiet and beautiful. When we returned, I checked the clock, and it was already 11 AM. I had been riding the bike for more than two hours. My legs and lower back were exhausted. I took a quick shower, and then we had lunch.
For lunch, he cooked homemade French fries. I was surprised he had a machine for that. I think those fries were the best I have ever had in my life. I could taste the freshness of the potatoes, and they were very light—not greasy at all.
After lunch, we rested for a bit and then went to an airplane museum. Toulouse is known for airplanes. I have met many people who work for Airbus, so I was very curious. I learned a lot about aircraft, and now I think I will check what plane I am boarding every time I fly.
After coming back, he let me use the sauna, which was absolutely amazing. I waited for him and his wife, who were flying back from Paris. After she arrived, we had our last dinner together. I cleaned my room, packed my things, and wrote them a letter. Then I went to bed.
I was so lucky and happy to meet them. They are some of the kindest people I have ever met. They work hard, but at the same time, they enjoy their lives through active hobbies like running, cycling, and hiking. I was so grateful for everything they did for me. These experiences will be unforgettable for the rest of my life. I hope I will see them again.
My next destination is a Mediterranean city far from Toulouse: Nice.
