3 July 2011

And so the adventure continues.....
We need to make regular trips to the 'pink city' of Toulouse, so decided to buy one of the new Pack Liberte tickets which allows 12m unlimited returns with reduced prices for ancients like us. Yesterday we tried it out. Problem 1 (you didn't really think everything would go smoothly, did you?): no trains!  Work on the line preparing for the new TGV service Bordeaux to Toulouse. By the time we turned up at le Gare Gaillac, no turning back, so we boarded Le Car - a surprisingly comfortable and efficient coach and joined the French holiday crowds on all roads south.  Problem 2:  I've realised I'm a machinaphobe.  Couldn't fathom the high-tech ticket machines at the Matabiau Metro and needed the inevitable 'young person' to show me how!  This, despite my super high-speed typing skills from another age and my university degree.  N'importe quoi.  The big surprise was the layout on the Metro platforms.  Closed electronic doors, which suddenly swish open in synchrony and perfect alignment with the incoming train. Reminded us of monorails at Florida airports.  So, even if he wanted to, Him indoors couldn't push me under the next train. He said it reminded him of bookmakers of old:  what've you got TouLose...