Bricks and Woad in Albi

For over 200 years’ bricklayers worked on the incredible structure that is Albi Cathedral. 

Bell Tower of St. Cecilia

Just envision; the people who designed this Cathedral never saw it completed. For two hundred years’ workers laid bricks; grandfathers and fathers and sons and sons of sons. When one gazes upwards at the bell tower, which stretches 78 meters high, you can picture those workers at the top. How was the scaffolding set up, how did they raise building materials, how many fell to their deaths? To view the Cathedral at Albi is to ponder the centuries and the incredible talent, fortitude and endurance of those that built it. The first building on the sight was created in the fourth century and subsequently destroyed by fire in 666. The second building was constructed or at least recorded in 920 under the name Saint Cecilia.

The brick Gothic structure that dominates the city today was constructed between 1287 and 1480 and was known as Cathedral Basilica St. Cecilia. After the Cathar Crusades of 1209-1229, the Roman Catholic Church wanted a significant presence in the South West of France to show the power and authority of the Church. Saint Cecilia is the result and is deeply impressive.

Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albi  provides the history of the city and the many structures of consequence. Of additional interest is the fact that Woad was a significant factor in the wealth and trade of the city. When I get home I’m going to try and plant some of these seeds and harvest and process for the dye. Check out this site to see what Woad is all about  http://www.woad.org.uk/index.html

Yes. It's all brick and the largest brick church in the world.

Primarily Italian Renaisance Interior that is impossible to describe.
Blue, Trompe L'oeil, plus Flemish paintings from 13th Century, every centimetre decorated 

The side entrance is under renewal but the length of the stucture is evident from this viewpoint

Toulouse Lautrec Museum Gardens formerly the Bishop's Residence

Cathedral across the Garonne in Madelaine and former houses of Woad Merchants

This bridge has carried people and vehicles since 1020 and continues today.

Gardner at work...Lucky Guy

Last light of a wonderful day

The Cathedral and surrounding old city were designated UNESCO World Sites in 2010.

Les Chats et Les Chiens

Those of you who know us also know we love cats. We had two, have had three, but sadly they have all gone on to their 10th life. What we notice here is that the French likewise love their cats. I guess that's one reason we feel right at home despite our ongoing struggle with the language. Duolingo is our breakfast, lunch and dinner. Today, Sebastien, our apartment rental contact came with a new TV box and I was so delighted to be able to respond to his question Comment ca va? with Je l'ai récupéré! that I could hardly wait to get it out. He gave a thumbs up to my pronunciation so at least I have one phrase down and a million to go!

Anyhow the French and cats...We have a very big orange fluffy cat, a male, who we have noticed sitting on the hood of a car in our street. We pet him and he purrs gruffly: surely in Charles Aznavour French. We thought he was homeless or possibly a street cat, as that's where he seems to hangout. The other morning, we were giving him his morning pat when a woman walking down the street told us he has a beautiful home but he prefers the car hood.

The first day we arrived we bought bread at our little Boulangerie on Rue de la Concorde and across the street, to my dismay, was a little black cat on the second story window sill watching a pigeon. He proceeded to jump on to the awning below and stalk the pigeon who perched on the next door ledge. John assured me he had done this many times and dragged me off, but I check each morning now to see if he is around. The shutters are always closed so suspect, and certainly wish to believe that he is safe inside. 

We gave coins to a man on the street who sits with his two cats; one soft gray and the other a cream Siamese. They are both on leads and sit on little blankets beside this man who is so grateful for coins. Who knows what his story is and my language is not sufficient to ask him. One thing is evident; he loves those cats and they him. Cats sit on doorsteps, in windows and alleys. I saw a lovely one inside a very official building today. The big doors to the inner courtyard were open and I could see a cobbled drive and garden. Le Chat was calmly surveying the busy street, Rue Strasbourg, unperturbed, from his vantage point. Not to say there are no dogs. Dogs abound in every colour, shape and breed! Ratty little dogs, groomed fluffy ones, fat dogs, clipped dogs and ones that are very highly pedigreed by the look of them. And yes, everyone does not follow the poop and scoop rule. At least with cats we don’t have to clean our boots!

So, in honour of all cats and dogs, herein follows a gallery of Toulousian viewings this past week. 

Our car hood pal

Swift park runner

M. ´Elégant et D'argent

Jess

Pedigree versus mutt

Helping to earn a living

Cafe Angus

Big Boy

Rue de Roziers Favourite

Rue de Chateaudun

Home for a month is 1/2 block from the Canal du Midi which we will hopefully float down once our Dutch Barge, Forty Roses III, is finally completed. Right now we are attempting to pin down the launch date with our builder. This is proving to be a more difficult question than anticipated. Working "full speed" apparently includes no estimate of completion. So we are not so patiently waiting.

In the meantime, we enjoy the sunshine of Toulouse and begin to find our way about the city. The apartment is bright and airy, located in a residential area 5 minutes’ walk from Jeanne D'Arc Metro station. Basically the city centre. Yesterday I took my usual walking route and to my delight on the Rue de Strasbourg a huge market had sprung up. The photos are far better than any words to describe the produce and the customers filling their baskets and sacks with mouthwatering goods.  I have never seen greener more beautiful cabbages!

Sweet grapes 2€ per Kilo

The Greenest Cabbages

Lesser champignons than Cepes

The sought after Cepe..note the price

Called a Girolle in French :we know as Chanterelle

My home grown garlics are midgets compared to these

Every lettuce imaginable

Pomegranates or Grenades, yellow skinned but deep red inside.