Le Canal de Brienne, Toulouse

Advantages: Clean, basic accomodation
Disadvantages: In the middle of traffic hell

...It was my girlfriend's 21st birthday and I had a week of holiday to use up before Christmas. So, as you do, I booked a trip to Toulouse for the two of us. The Kyriad is probably not the hotel I would have chosen if I'd had an unlimited budget and more time to reflect on the trip. A huge 2 star hotel at the wrong end of Toulouse's Boulevard de la Gare, everything about its decoration, situation and lack of facilities suggests that it's not a hotel for a romantic break, more one for the low end business traveller. It's next to a canal, but at the exact point where the still waters are covered by a large concrete bridge. Crowds of typically French pedestrians throng past for much of the day, and unfortunately most of them seem to be typically French prostitutes. The kebab shop around the corner serves possibly the dodgiest kebab I've ever... Read review

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Advantages: architectural wonder
Disadvantages: cost many human lives to build

...between Toulouse and Sète happened in 1681, the year following his death. ¤ø,¸¸,◊,¸¸ ,ø¤ Needless to explain the difficulty of the task for the workers who achieved this colossal construction. The soul of the problem being that seeing as the water in the canal comes from a series of lakes and dams, the slope necessary for a steady supply of water, enough to fill the canal so that it's depth allows boats to navigate on, had to be very precise. The Canal du midi therefore goes through tunnels and over bridges, down locks and past sleep cliffs! It cost many human lives to build. Originally for commercial cargo use, today the canal serves for touristic navigation. ¤ø,¸¸,◊,¸¸ ,ø¤ So that's done with the quick summary, but in fact, I wanted to extend this review to talk about the locks at Béziers, as they are very spectacular... Read review

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Advantages: friendly, fantastic food, great atmosphere
Disadvantages: up a flight of stairs

...C'est fantastique!!! Imagine, a warm July evening. It's late and you find yourself outside a restaurant, looking at yet another menu. Some other 'foreigners', just leaving, recommend the place wholeheartedly, so you mount the stairs to the 'salon' on the first floor. A warm welcome greets you and you are shown to a table, your only slight regret being that you weren't early enough to enjoy a table on the balcony. The decor is definitely 'fin de ciecle' and Colette and Toulouse Lautrec would have fitted in perfectly. The wallpaper of blowsy roses and gorgeous classical statuary is perfect. If you are into 'shabby chic', it's worth coming here just for some authentic inspiration! The food was wonderful and I can honestly say that 'Eau de Folles' produces the most tender, succulent mussels to be found anywhere - no mean feat... Read review

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