On Sunday evening, we went to the annual Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse performance. This was our fourth year attending, and the concert was sold out. The conductor, Elias Grandy, was animated through the whole concert and working from memory, without musical scores. It was the best concert we have been to in the Cathédrale! Très excellente !
Last evening, we went to the Terropera production of Une Nuit à Broadway, performed in the courtyard of Chateau de Terraube. Led by David Levi on piano, four singers performed a dozen and a half songs from Broadway shows, with French translation in the program. It was a delightful evening in an ancient setting. Chateau de Terraube was built in the 1200’s for the Galard family and they continue to maintain ownership.
Stage 12 of 2025 Tour de France started in Auch yesterday, 17 July. The race continued from Auch south to the Pyrenees. Papa and I decided to watch from the village of Mirande. We arrived early and walked about the village, then found a spot I liked for taking photos. From 3 hours prior to the bikers arriving in Mirande, about 25 minutes by bike south of Auch, the roads were closed and there was a constant stream of officials and sponsor vehicles. At noon, there was a parade of sponsor vehicles, similar to floats, with sponsors throwing hats and food and other things from their vehicles. A young boy was on the street below us with a big box and the sponsors were throwing things directly into the box. They filled it up! By 1:15, helicopters appeared and then cars with bikes on top started streaming past, until 1:45 when gendarmes on motorcycles led the Tour de France peloton. It passed in seconds and there was a second peloton, and finally a lone rider, with official vehicles and motorcycles all around. The riders all passed within 2 minutes! Very exciting!
