Storm's a Brewing in Toulouse

As you can see the weather has been quite variable. This photo shows the top of the tower next to the Capitole and the incoming rain clouds.

Toulouse has a very interesting history that has been recorded since just before the Romans showed up. In this spot along the Garonne River people have lived and worked for at least 2600 years and there is a historical record. For people who grow up here the past is not some cherished "old country" it is in the streets and squares that surround them each day of their lives. This is a hard concept for some one like myself to really grasp being a child of the "West Coast" were old is less than 200 years.

Today we visited the Musee du Vieux-Toulouse ( Museum of OLD Toulouse) and a "Pharmacie" (Pharmacy :-).

I have been working on keeping my head cold from migrating to my chest so I wanted some guaifenesin to keep things moving and we stopped in the local "pharmacie" to get some. They didn't have it but the guy at the counter had the "right thing" for me. So for about $4 US I waltzed off with what turns out to be the "non addicting" form of codeine! I think I know why they think it is not addicting. In order to be addicting you would have to be conscious!!! I took a dose then took a little 3 hour nap! When I was in my early twenties I was out of the country for 7 months and I don't remember missing the OTC section of QFC quite this much. It must be an age thing to see Claritin NON-Drowsy as a essential travel buddy!

The museum was interesting, it focused on the history of Toulouse and it's development as a French city. Housed in the hotel Dumay which was built in the 16th century it has many paintings and artifacts. Here is a surprising one.

Toulouse is the home of the inventor of the leotard! Jules Leotard, who was made famous by the song the "Daring Young man on the Flying Trapeze", invented the one piece garment to keep the legs free and the rest of the body covered. In the museum they have a model of his gymnasium which shows how he developed and practiced his many feats of daring do! And now I'm sure that having read this you will be happily reviewing your memories of just how that song goes possibly for the next 24 hours! I have a solution. See if you can get your hands on some of this cough syrup. ;-)