This was our “get-out-of-jail” trip.
Because of Covid lockdowns, Bina and I had spent much of 2021 hunkering down in our apartment in Tavira, Portugal. Those were the days of avoiding public gatherings, eating restaurant meals outdoors and wearing face masks in public places. International travel was very difficult due to strict border controls.
By summer, things were starting to loosen up enough so that Bina and I could again think about visiting other places in Europe, to celebrate her birthday at the end of July. We noticed that easyJet, the discount airline, flew direct from Faro to Toulouse, in southwestern France. This caught our attention because that area (Occitanie) has been our favorite region of France since a stay in Caunes-Minervois in 2013.
This time we focused on Albi, a larger town (pop. 49,000) located on the Tarn River east of Toulouse and easily reached in an hour-long train ride from Toulouse. Albi is known for its well-preserved old quarter dating back to medieval times (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) that includes the largest brick cathedral in Europe. It’s also the birthplace of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, with a museum showcasing a collection donated by the painter’s family.
We boarded the plane for Toulouse on July 29.
Two Clines Traveling 