My first trip to France :- Me and People I met with!!

As you all know we have a very cheap flights to visit near by countries....When I received an offer email from Ryanair (Cheap airways) about the 5 euro tickets, I advised myself not to look their site.. But you all know taht I couldn't control myself .. So that end with this trip.. To be honest when I checked this destination (Carcassonne) I did not have any idea where it is located.. Okay.. with the internet the world is in our hand.. So I did check and I found very interesting that the place is famous for the Medieval castle.. So I could not stop to book the ticket.. and I supposed to stay there for three days since there is less frequency .. As I was told, Carcassonne is a small city and takes just half a day to see the castle and I had been advised to visit the other city Toulouse mean while.... That was in fact great idea!!

More interestingly I found a very nice people to stay with in both cities!!! That made my trip more exciting!!


The day I arrived it was heavily raining in Carcassonne.. Strom and according to the weather report it should continue for other day .. Non stopping!!!.. It was!!

Since, Carcassonne is a very small city I could not find the bus details online to reach the family where I suppose to go..I just had their address and thought would be easy to reach there.. Since it was heavily raining I was thinking how could I get there... I just decided to first reach the railway station from the Airport by bus.. When It reached the Train station I showed the address to the driver, he asked me to get back into the bus.. and very surprisingly he drove me and dropped me right in front of their house.. I smiled myself .. Nothing I could do expect thanking god!!!

The family was very welcoming and they have small boy named "Yann".. He reveived me with lot of smiles.. Her mother asked me what was my plan.. I suppose to visit caslte and just walk around.. Since, it was raining heavily I thought of just resting at home.. But More surprisingly Yann wanted to take me to show around even with that heavy rain fall.. Then I got some energy to go with him.. we had some issue of communication (French/English).. But this smart guy was trying to make me understand with his action..

So Starting with "Yann", my little sweet youngest guide I ever had...

We were completely wet after visit.. Not at all surprising you right???..

Okay..

Sometime it is necessary to capture photos with me.. At least to prove that I had been there!!
So here are some proofs .. (Please believe .. Real pictures no photoshop!! I know how you think..)

I am happy to share this .. That is about my other interesting host (Guilluame) from Toulouse.. He surprised me with dinner.. It was almost Indian .. Fish cooked with Some spice and coconut milk .. of course with rice and wine it went perfect..
What do you think??then comes again me, to show more proofs in Toulouse.. Ha ha ha..

I would like to end this post with "Yann".. You know, he tried to teach me some words in french.. Specially I liked the sound of number "4" (Quatre).. He tried his best to get that sound and finally he gave up.. Ha ha ha.. You should know now how good I am in learning language..

Poor Portuguese people .. They are trying hard too.. Fortunately they didn't give up so far..

Poor "Yann" too..

Sweet guy..

Okay.. here I take an opportunity to thank everyone made my trip very special.. And I ask you all to get ready to see more posts.. Do not be in hurry to see all at the same day..
Take you own time..

Toulouse from Carcassonne

As I said in my previous post it was a storm in Carcassonne, so I decided to go to Toulouse... While travelling I got a message about the weather of Toulouse, and that made me so happy..

That was a good idea to go out from Carcassonne!

Starting from the Train station at Carcassonne.. Look the sky!

Already I am at Toulouse (Ville Rose : means Pink City) .. Not so sunny.. But at least it was not raining.. Thank god again..

Starting from "La place du Capitole"..
Inside Capitole: Art gallery..

The Salle des Illustres..
One of the paintings from Henri -Martin.. (It is good for Nasim) .. I always remember her when I see paintings..

This is the paint which I liked the most.. I have no idea why.. Do you have any???

Then I headed towards river side..


While walking I found this interesting thing in there.. It is a bike stand provided for the people mainly tourists.. They have many stands like this all around the city centre..
Very good looking bikes.. Right???

You could make this bike tour for free.. For every half an hour it is free.. You can pick some where and drop some where in any stands and it will not charge you for half an hour.. Otherwise it is just one euro per hour.. Very nice!! What do you say??..


Here I would liek to present you some interesting churches..
(Basilique St- Sernin)
Inside of that..

Other interesting church .."Couvent des Jacobins"Inside of that.. I spent really good time there watching those interesting architectures..

And finally I found this very interesting houses all around city.. In many main avenues.. The grill work attracted me a lot.. So finite and unique I guess ..

Here I finish the Toulouse at day time walking... Scroll down to see more photos at night..

Toulouse at night..

As I walked a lot during a day and I am so interested in seeing the city at night , I decided to go again.. My host "Guillaume" decided to accompany me.. After a day walk I went to his home and had our dinner and I wished to go to see the city at night by bike (After I saw the bike I could not control myself stop riding) .. I found that it is very easy with Saree too.. It was well protected the bike..

So we took our bikes.. This was the bike I used.. So comfortable it was..

And in Toulouse the week I went there, they had some science project for "laser light".. So you can see these rainbow coloured lights all over the city.. It was so beautiful..

I do not have to say anything expect I liked very much to see all these interesting light arrangements..

That was very easy and awesome to go by bike and see the city at night.. I had a great company of Guillaume and It was very easy for me just to follow him and he explained me about all history of all interesting buildings we have seen.. Here I should thank every couch surfing people (Hosts) for their efforts to make their guest to feel so perfect..

It is for sure without the couch surfing I never travel like this in my life..

Obrigadissima!

Carcassonne at night..

After visiting Toulouse I travelled back to Carcassonne.. When I arrived back the day looked so beautiful.. You will see how would I enjoy..

This is the view from the window where I stayed.. They just live behind the castle.. That was so nice..

This photo I like a lot!

and castle at night...


and please do not feel boring to see lot of day photos from the castle .. Just right below..

Carcassonne :Medieval walled Town: Biggest and oldest Castle I have ever seen!!

I told you it was a beautiful day... Isn't???

At the entrance to Castle..

Look how many people were waiting.. It was because they had strike for two days in France.. So they were thinking whether they could open for public or not.. I was bit worried if they didn't let me go inside .. Nothing.. I will come back again.. Just a matter of 20 euros.. Ha ha ha.. But fortunately they decided to open the castle .. Interestingly I found so many foreigners.. I could listen most of the time english..

Castle entrance..
Do you believe in this??? It is a 2000 year Medieval village and still is a place for inhabitants..
That surprised me a lot...

I cant still believe that it is still alive..






Look this small house.. How beautiful it is..


Lovely place for a drink..
One of the oldest buildings I liked.. when you see it you cant stop starring at this for a while..
And it is breathtaking absolutely!!! Hmmmmm...
St.Nazarius Church : This cathedral was first mentioned in 925 A.D.. I was feeling good to be there..
Inside that..
After a visit to castle I went to get some home made cookies .. I could not stop myself to buy things from here..I guess no one could..

I wish to end this post with the castle view again.. Hmmmm.. Carcassonne is one of my favourite places being a castle lover.. Oh .. wow... Okay .. I would like to show you some more pictures that might interest you.. Let's see.. Please follow down..