Albi France – 05/26

(Michelle) So we departed from our cute little bungalow and headed to Albi. The weather turned sour today, but we were not outside for much of it. In Albi we saw the Toulouse-Lautrec museum…the Moulin Rouge poster man! Maybe now I’ll watch the movie. What was cool about this art museum, versus others, is that it was mainly the work of one artist. TJ and I both thought it was a pretty interesting set up. It was cool to see the progression of one artist through his short and naturally tortured life (parents were first cousins, genetic disorder, under 5 foot tall, died at 37). In the museum, along with his art, they also had the cane that he used when he was in an asylum (it was hollowed out with a place for a tiny flask where people would sneak him alcohol). We also saw a cool brick church with really bright and almost modern (although not modern at all) painting on the walls. This church also had the best painted eternal damnation scene we’ve seen so far.
We of course arrived in Albi during lunch when everything was closed but restaurants, so we had a quick lunch first to get out of the rain. I ordered what may be my favorite French fast food – the croq monsieur, which TJ aptly described as a cheese sandwich on steroids.
After seeing the church, we parted ways with Nadirah and Nathan. TJ and I, after looking at the map, realized that we were really close to Andorra, and when you have the chance to go to a country where the total population is 75,000 people, you have to check it out. “Why not?” So we took the train from Albi to Toulouse and then got the first train out in the am to Andorra.

(TJ) Note to self: arrange to have a hollow cane made to store booze and small glass in for when you are institutionalized.

Also Note to self: being boiled by the devil does not look fun, avoid eternal damnation.

Final Note to self: make sure to get last rights, knock on wood.