The adventurers:
This issue’s roving reporters are TASNEEM and STEVE BRIDGEMAN. Tasneem, 40, is a children’s cancer pharmacist at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and Steve, 42, is a self-employed graphic designer. The couple met almost eight years ago on a night out in Manchester and now live in Sale, Cheshire, with their two cats, Ana and Millie. They adopted Ana on their first holiday together, in Portugal, and named the little black and white cat after the beach they found her on, Praia Dona Ana. It was on this trip to the Algarve that Steve rediscovered his passion for motorbikes and tried to take Ana to an animal sanctuary on the back of one, but (not surprisingly!) this optimistic plan failed. However, now she has her own European passport, which she used to come back to Sale, where she’s become a permanent member of the household.
Tasneem and Steve were very excited when they learned they were the winners of this competition and would be heading off to France for yeahbaby, to the Ville Rose (Pink City) of Toulouse…
Day 1
8.00pm Dinner
After checking in to our hotel, we explored the local area and, as the sun set, we made our way to the bustling Grand Café de l’Opéra (www.brasserieopera.com) in the city’s largest square, the Place du Capitole. This restaurant is frequented by many of the world-famous artists who perform in the nearby Théâtre du Capitole. The food and service were exceptional – come here for French food with a twist and a warm welcome.
Day 2
9.00am Place du Capitole
The next morning, when we stepped out into the bright sunshine, we were greeted with an open-air market in the Place du Capitole, selling everything from African art to flowers. A classic Citroen H van left us in no doubt as to which country we were in! After a mosey ‘round the market, we wandered down the Rue du Taur, admiring the buildings made out of the local “pink” stone and passing a number of little bookshops. We came out at the historic Saint-Sernin Basilica.
9.30am Saint-Sernin
Steve took great delight in boring Tasneem with the intricacies of Romanesque and gothic architecture at the Basilica of Saint-Sernin, which was built in honour of thefirst Bishop of Toulouse, a martyr who was dragged through the streets by a bull. A cruciform building with high vaulted ceilings, it contains radiating chapels which were used to display important relics, many of which are still on display. We’d suggest a tour of the crypt to see even more religious artefacts.
12noon Lunch
We happened to bump into our taxi driver from the previous day, Serge Lavat, who was in town on his day off and recommended we go to Maison du Cassoulet (www.maisonducassoulet.com) for lunch. We enjoyed the traditional southwestern dish of cassoulet; a rich, slow-cooked bean casserole containing meat – typically Toulouse sausage and duck, with white haricot beans – served in a stonewear pot.
2.30pm Wedding!
While exploring, we found ourselves back at the Basilica, where we spotted a wedding. As anyone was allowed into the church, we thought we’d take the opportunity to witness a traditional French wedding. A little flower girl was collecting money for the newlyweds and wandered over to us, much to the horror of the mother of the groom. We insisted on making a donation (it seemed only fair since we’d gate-crashed!) and the happy couple even posed for us.
8.30pm Carousel ride
After a late afternoon nap we were refreshed for the evening ahead, and enjoyed cocktails at the hotel bar before making our way to Place du Président Wilson. At the centre of the small park is an ornate traditional carousel. Tasneem enjoyed the ride while Steve hung onto his chair looking a bit green(!) and, once back onfirm ground, went for a delicious dinner at Le Bon Vivre (www.lebonvivre.com). Wefinished the evening with drinks at Le J’go (www.lejgo.com), a vibrant bar.
Day 3
10am Museum
After a leisurely breakfast, we decided to go once again in search of culture. The Musée des Augustins (www.augustins.org) houses an amazing exhibition of Romanesque capitals and also 13th and 14th-century gargoyles which look like they could come alive at any minute! They overlook a beautiful courtyard garden which is framed by Corinthian columns. The museum houses many beautiful sculptures from across the centuries, some dating to the Middle Ages.
12noon Pont Neuf
Pont Neuf means “new bridge”, but this is actually the oldest bridge in Toulouse! It crosses the River Garonne, which plays an important role in inland shipping: only allowing seagoing vessels to reach the port of Bordeaux and also forming part of the Canal des Deux Mers, which links the Mediterranean Sea to the Bay of Biscay, allowing a shorter and safer way for goods to pass from the agricultural areas of the south of France to the Atlantic.
1pm Victor Hugo Market
Don’t be put off by the grim exterior of this building on Place du Capitole – inside is a bustling colourful food market. From here we boarded the little tourist train which travels around the city for a last look at Toulouse. Much to our surprise, we found ourselves seated next to Steve’s old college friend, Stuart, and his family! (www.uk.toulouse-tourisme.com; tel: +33 [0]5 6271 08 51)
4.00pm Last supper
Also located on the Place du Capitole, Café Les Arcade (tel: +33 [0]5 34 44 15 20) was the perfect spot to enjoy a drink in the sunshine on ourfinal afternoon before moving inside for an early dinner. The food is excellent – be sure to order off the French menu for a greater selection. It was just a few steps back to our hotel before leaving for the airport.
The hotel
If you’re looking for a stunning hotel with a great location, it doesn’t come more central than Le Grand Balcon. Situated on the edge of the Place du Capitole, this hotel has a heritage that dates back to the 1920s when it was a “home from home” for the famous aviators of the day, most notably Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, author of The Little Prince. His room, number 32, has been lovingly restored to its original state and is available as a suite.
Our room was a funky mix of minimalism, with a restrained colour palette and unusual textures. The hotel has a really cosy feel to it, largely due to the juxtaposition of old and new, and the clever use of space. The staff were outstanding from the moment we stepped into the hotel – they clearly love their work and manage to combine a relaxed attitude with attentive service. We would firmly recommend this four-star hotel to “our” readers!
Our writers stayed in the four-star Le Grand Balcon, located in the heart of Toulouse overlooking the Place du Capitole. It’s available to book from £145/€165 per night per room on a room-only basis (based on two sharing). To book, visit www.bmibaby.com, where you can search for hotels and apartments in all bmibaby destinations. Powered by Europe’s leading travel and leisure website, lastminute.com.
