Hear about travel to Toulouse, France as the Amateur Traveler talks to Benny the Irish Polyglot.
Benny lived in the city for 3 months to work on his French. He was drawn to the University city culture but fell in love with the “pink city” and its people.
After living and working in Paris, Benny had not fallen in love with the city. Paris gets so many tourists and so many visitors that he found its residence sometimes get tired of foreigners. So he looked for somewhere else to base himself and chose this city in the South of France near the Spanish border. The region has a distinctive accent and a Latin culture that he greatly preferred over the more popular Paris.
Benny describes the historic downtown, and University area with its distinctive “pink” brick color, the cafes, the student nightlife as well as a thriving couch surfing community. It is a city where you can rent a bike for the day for a single euro and find an inexpensive apartment for a month.
Toulouse is also the center for aviation in Europe because it is the home of AirBus.
We also talk about taking a day trip to the historically significant walled town of Carcassonne nearby.
right click here to download (mp3)
right click here to download (iTunes version with pictures)
Show Notes
Fluent in 3 Months
Toulouse, France
Costa Brava Airport
Nightlife in Toulouse
University of Toulouse (Website is in French)
Toulouse Botanical Gardens
Let’s Visit Airbus
Carcassonne
Tin Tin Shop (Website is in French)
Six Things You Must Do In Toulouse
News
Louvre Shut Due To Violent Gang Of Pickpockets
Woman owes $100,000 in fines after $600 car parked for three years at Chicago airport
Hacker says phone app could hijack plane
Community
demographics survey
Peter wrote about: Travel to the South Side of Chicago – Episode 365
Chris,
Yes, you were right about Pilsen, but its name came from Bohemian immigrants or “Bohunks” who settled there. When did the term “Czech” replace Bohemia and Bohemian?
Also, I think Queen Elizabeth II stayed at the Conrad Hilton, now the Chicago Hilton and Towers, on Michigan Ave.
Peter in Chicago
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by Chris Christensen
Chris Christensen is the creator of the Amateur Traveler blog and podcast. He has been a travel creator since 2005 and has won awards including being named the "Best Independent Travel Journalist" by Travel+Leisure Magazine.+Chris Christensen | @chris2x | facebook
3 Responses to “Travel to Toulouse, France – Episode 367”
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Tags: audio travel podcast, france, podcast, toulouse
Savio Wong
Says:April 17th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
I discovered Amateur Traveller’s podcast a few years ago. I travelled every chance I got and have enjoyed listening to some of the episodes before my trip to various places. Thank you.
Toulouse happened to be a place that I visited several times. I always find France very difference once you are out of Paris.
Just a few things I would like to add:
1) Toulouse, like a number to towns in this area of France has a strong connection to the Cathars. The history of this Christian sect is fascinating and worth looking up.
2) The Metro (subway) system is Toulouse is fully automated. It would have been good to know this before my first ride when I was wondering where the driver was.
3) Inside the Capitole de Toulouse, there are some fine 19th century art works. Entry is free.
4) St. Sernin Basilica in Toulouse is an important stop for pilgrims who take the southern route on their way to Santiago de Compostela. The Basilica also offers free concerts in the summer.
http://on.fb.me/11igPp3
5) Albi is a short bus ride from Toulouse. I think it was just over an hour. Its cathedral, built after the defeat of the Cathars there, is one of the biggest brick buildings in the world.
http://on.fb.me/14wQSYA
6) Arles is a bit further but it is possible to do it in a day. The train ride is just over 3 hours. Arles was an important port city under the Romans. However, it is probably better known for a place where Vincent van Gogh lost his ear.
This cafe is next to the famous La Cafe la Nuit in Arles:
http://on.fb.me/11egmoZ
The Roman Arena in Arles is also impressive.
http://on.fb.me/17pnwXY
Cheers,
Savio Wong
Kitchener, Ontario
Steven J Fromm
Says:April 20th, 2013 at 9:00 am
Thanks for the insights into Toulouse. Did not know much about it but it sounds interesting. Thanks to to Savio for her personal experiences and tips. This small and relatively unknown treasures are worthy of our attention and a visit sounds like a good idea. Thanks!
Kori
Says:May 3rd, 2013 at 12:31 pm
This is some great insight on Toulouse. It sounds like a very interesting place to travel to while in Europe. I will have to look into taking a trip the next time I travel.