Big spiral staircase

In march we were at the public library of Toulouse called "Mediatheque Jose Cabanis", here in french some information about the building.
In the middle of the atrium linking the 4 floor, there is this very impressive spiral staircase.

Detail here after : the wooden step and iron barrier.


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Bricks and pebbles

We were at Montbrun-Lauragais Sunday morning for a garage-sale.
I discovered that the school and the town-hall were build with bricks and pebbles which is really typical for the aera. Here after a detail.


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Bridge for canal

A bridge has been built for the canal when Hers-mort river meets it.
At the beginning of the canal, all rivers flew into the canal. But there were too much overflowings and sandbanks and Vauban solved these problems by draining the canal and by creating bridge to allow river to pass below.

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African Queen

This boat is docked along the canal. My 1st idea is the boat in The Aftrican Queen movie.
I don't know what kind of boat is it. Does anybody help me ?
I want to ask the owner for the story of his boat but there is nobody each time I pass close by.

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Outdor shooting range

Each time I pass over the highway, I startle earing gunshots from this shooting range.
This is my favorite way to my weekly ride along the canal with promises of calm nature and quiet water.
But no ! there are always these ... gunshots !!

Stop Gun Violence !!!

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Alongside the canal

Finally the sun decides to come in Lauragais after a rainy month of may.
I can restart my weekly ride along the canal with lots of opportunity of pictures.

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Wheatfield

It's time that wheat becomes yellow !
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Old roadsign

The smallest street of Baziège

Do you have such a small street in your town ?
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Public Fountain #4

I had forgotten the most in sight public fountain of Baziège. It leans against the famous corn exchange. It works and there are no signs that the water is not drinkable.
It seems that there are always red bricks on my pictures ;-)
Thanks for all comments, especially from Australia and Swiss.

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June DP Theme

Here the view from the roof window in the attic.
I already posted views from our french window bedroom and from another attic window.
Do you recognize this building ?

Let me introduce all DP Theme Day attendees of a whole world :
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Public Fountain #3

Annother public fountain, the third I know.
They all work and give a non drinkable water.

Do you have also public fountain in your city ?

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Red brick pavement

Even along the canal they have used red bricks to make the pavement of some locks.
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Public Fountain #2

Sorry for the break, no photos for 3 days, oups.

Today I will continue to explore the public fountain of Baziege.
This one is located in front of the church.
In the background, you can notice the half-timbered house and again red bricks.

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Hers Mort Rivier is a little Amazonia !

Each day going to work, I used to cross a bridge over Hers-Mort river.
In a previous post, it was hazy.
Now, it is a little bit of Amazonia in Lauragais. But smaller, this river is 3 m wide only.
I took also this one, I think I'm Yann Arthus-Bertrand with a car and a bridge.


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Jasmine

A little picture of a flower of jasmine.
There is one full of flowers which perfume my patio.

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Cat on the wall

Just on the right of the fountain I shot yesterday, I saw this cat comfortablily laid down on the wall.
In addition, a typical usage of red brick.

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Public fountain

It remains some public fountains in Baziege which work.
This is the biggest one connected to a well. The water is not drinkable.
Mainly uses to water gardens. Sometimes you can see an elder fills a plastic can.
As you can see every old buildings is made with red bricks.

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Fruit Pie and Apple Croustade

Past Friday we were at a party. We were in charge to bring Pies from our famous baker to our friends. I did'nt resist to take a picture before deliver these simple and delicious dessert. As you can see they were luscious (is it correct ?). In 10 mn, it was finished.
If you have the opportinuty to come here (you're all invited, really, do you know home exchange ?), it is really important to meet this baker, his name is Gallur. As I understand, US people would say "organic" ;-) or typical (not exotic) but everything he mades is simple and delicious.

For cookers and french readers, here the recipe of Apple Croustade.
If somebody gives me a good translation of croustade or a similar recipe in English, you'll be welcome and I will give you a virtual piece of cake !

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Squat - Taudis - Homeless

I don't know what word exactly uses to describe that close to my village.
This former barn was occupied by homeless during 1 or 2 months.
It is just along a road between a supermarket and the village. I often uses this road but I never has the courage to stop it just to know how homeless live.
I understand that this post is not "fun" or informative or "exotic". But we have also to show facts even if they are cruel especially because we have a lot of privileges and we don't notice it.


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Columbine

It is rainy today and the sky is light-grey. It is not a good day for good photos.
But flowers save me especially columbines that grow in my patio below a jasmine.
Do you see the raindrops on the petals ?

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Tanks

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Wasteland and Pigeon house

Every day, I pass along an estate that belongs to the Emmaüs Charity.
They collects lots of things forgotten in attics and cellars.
Just where trucks load, there is a pigeon house completely misplaced from this point of view.

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Bottles of Chablis

Don't know if bottles have been drunk in one time or in several years ...

It is a little bit far from Baziège and Lauragais, but I think it's a good photo.


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Moulin D'en Cos

There is a lot of old windmill in the Lauragais countryside. Sometimes restored or not. This one is very special because if it has lost its sails, all the mechanisms inside is totally unbroken.

To improve your French, I propose an article "La route des moulins" (the windmill road)

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Gate without fence

On the way back from a local market at Montgiscard, I've noticed this gate without any fence.

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Lock passage

This is the time when people from everywhere in the world to sail on the Canal du Midi. Is is always a good show for people stopping at the lock as in this case 2 English bikers and a pilgrim on the Way of St James (Camino de Santiago).

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Cox

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Port of Baziege

In fact it is not a true port. But this place was used until mid 20th century to fill barges with all kind of cereal which grow in Lauragais.
A very interesting article in French describes the building of these ports along the Canal du Midi.

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Renneville Lock

Back to the "Canal du Midi", this lock in the morning light has nothing in special.
But I guess that the reflection of the lock house on the water is quite good.

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Lawn mower

In echo to a previous post, I was pursued by my lawn mower.
After a scrap, I was laid down KO. I don't why I just had the time to shoot this picture and after ...

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Modern grain elevators

New grain elavators have been built outside the village to replace old one located in centre (refer to previous post).

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Fake Moons ?

Are there really 2 fake moons ? Or is it an artifact ?
Why am I so melancholic today ?
Is it due the music - Calexico - Hot Rail - I am listening to ?
Or is it because I must mow and trim the hedges tomorrow ?
Or something else ?

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Houseboat and washhouse

At the lock at Montgiscard, a shop has opened on a house-boat "Salammbô". As you can see on the notice it is called "Le Jardin des Orangers" ( The garden of Orange-trees").
You are invited to taste drinks and pastry made with all kinds of citrus-fruits, but the main activity is to sell citrus-fruits trees from the hothouse installed on board.
In the background of the picture, you can a well-preserved washhouse. This one of the oldest along the "Canal du Midi".

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Animals

Does somebody know what kind of duck it is ?
I will probably say "Colvert" in French or "Mallard" in English.
Numerous colonies are located on the "Canal du Midi".

This morning I met 2 other animals.
First a couple of goose walking (or it was during a love parade) on the bicycle path. I had to stop quickly but I got the opportunity to take a picture :

And last on the way back to home, I discovered the dead body of a sleeper (taupe in french).
Yes I understand that is not very joyful but it is, I guess, rare :


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Barn

On the way back from work, I often pass along this field with this small building.
I don't if barn is appropriate because it is small, but it is not a pigeon house.
As you can see, the material is brick, typically known here as red brick.
Toulouse (not far from Baziege) is called the "pink city".
Scroll into the Toulouse Daily Photo Blog to discover some nice shots from pink Toulouse.

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Ecluse du sanglier - Wild boar lock

I continue to present the locker's houses of the "Canal du Midi" which are not far from Baziege.
As I explained previously every Saturday morning - sometimes at different day depending on weather conditions - I take my bike for a 30 km ride along the canal. It's always an opportunity to shoot some photos.
As you can see if you zoom in above the door, the date of building is written : "1752".
During the digging of the canal, a big big wild boar was shoot down at this place.

You will find here the solution of the quiz of the previous post.
In fact, it is a leak or water-jet from a lock door, I agree that it was not so easy, but I found that playing with saturation was funny.
Thanks to Gerald and Abraham to participate.

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Strange post

First many thanks to all of you for your comments and support for my first DP Theme yesterday :-D

A strange photo for the 2nd day of May.
May I organize a quiz ?

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DP Theme : City Exchange

Lost American Natives in France.

In a field nearby the "Canal du Midi", there are these 4 tipi used by a local youth organisation.
I will be surprised the 1st time I saw it, I always wait for horses, buffalo and a peace pipeand not the US Cavalry.

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