6-8

We walked to the hotel in 15 mins and had just enough time to visit the 16th century Hotel Asselzat with a Louis XIV room and works by such greats as Boudin, Monet, Picasso and Tintoretto. We were very impressed by the elaborate rooms and world class paintings. Next, we had a drink at the Main Sq, practically on the doorstep of where we were staying at the Crowne Plaza. We walked into a place of paradise for cineastes, where I found a rare Melville. Then, we had a traditional, hearty Cassoulet dish with goose, which quite simply divine. Afters was tasty too - which was apple pie a la flambéed armagnac.

7-8

We got back to Toulouse and had Vietnamese street food. One of the waiters asked us to come back as he wasn't ready yet, in spite of the fact they were supposed to be open already (it was mentioned on their website). We had a drink a few doors away and came back.

After all that, the food was nice but we'd both preferred the classic Vietnamese we'd had in Tours.

8-8

We had a looksie at the Victor Hugo covered market, where they have stalls galore for all tastes with lots of cheese and meat - they keep the produce outside. Next up, we discovered that the Capitole building (1873), which not only houses the city hall, a theatre and a 19th century hall of the illustrious, was very much closed today on account of no fewer than 20 marriages taking place - as it happens, they double up as the town hall. Anyway, we picked up some organic plums for mere tuppence at a smaller market at the back of Capitole and made our way to the Jacobins Monastery (1229) ahead of the original plans; it's an impressive building. We had a drink and a piece of raspberry chocolate cake at Flowers cafe, which is a popular trendy café in a square nearby. St Sernin Basilique (1180) is another UNESCO site and rightly so; with a crypt holding saints' relics.

Lunch was at a fish place above the market, though the GPS took us outside and we were searching around asking gormless waiters where on earth it is like headless chickens. Once I realised, we found ourselves a table and the rest is history. The fresh fish comes directly from the market downstairs of course and we enjoyed the food immensely. The waitress was a a bit rude as she informed us in no uncertain terms that we had been using the wrong glasses for wine (it was not a posh place)- well, without putting too fine a point on it, we hadn't been given the right glasses in the first place. We stopped by at the Cathedral Etienne where an all black choir was warming up for a wedding service and we were politely gestured to leave. On to Grand Rond, an attractive park where we had a nice sit down in the shade and had some water and used the free loos. Lastly, we liked the, Hotel Bagis (1889) aka Clary, which is a stone mansion and also visited the Musée du Vieux Toulouse in the Hotel Dumay, a 16th century gem . Dinner was at a Lebanese place, close to the Vietnamese one.