First published by the Journal Gazette.
I embraced adventure in Toulouse, France.
That includes going outside my comfort zone by being sketched nude. I signed up for the “Take off your clothes and let yourself be drawn” experience on TripAdvisor.com.
I grew up in the conservative Midwest where many people consider nude sketches controversial. I did once but no longer do. Still, I was nervous about being in one. My nervousness evaporated as I slowly walked down the cobblestone street of Rue Du Coq D’Inde. I entered Olivier Payeur’s private studio through a light green door.
“I’ve sketched people from all over the world,” the French professional artist said. “I was recently interviewed about my work by a South African travel company.”
He sat relaxed as he sipped his tea while he talked me through the process. He recommended that I do not pose standing because I would need to remain still for 40 minutes. Instead, I lay on my side propped up on one elbow with my hand supporting my head. I was on a blanket that covered a beanbag. Beanbags help people maintain their positions.
I did feel a bit awkward as I lay naked in the quiet room. I could hear the rain tapping on the roof. I could smell the turpentine from oil paintings. I could see the back of the paper on the easel. Oliver stood, quickly sketching, and frequently poking his head out and then back to look at the paper. The 40 minutes flew by. When he finished, I looked at his sketch and was impressed with the detail. But I did not share my criticism. I looked a little older. But was it his drawing, or is that what I looked like? Aging sneaks up on you and every year it gets a bit worse. My criticism this year will have faded by next year, and I will then see a younger version of me in a flawless sketch.
Payeur rolled the sketch into a tube, handed it to me, and away I went. I can now tell people I’m in art made in France.
I walked to Ma Biche sur Le Toi for lunch. From its terrace, it offers panoramic views of the city. Toulouse is nicknamed “La Ville Rose” meaning “the Pink City.” A view from above shows the pinkish terracotta bricks in many of the city’s buildings.
I then took the Toulouse Sightseeing Bus Tour. I stopped at the famous Basilique Saint-Sernin and the Le Capitole. I walked along the brick-lined banks of the Garonne River.
Later that evening, I went on the “Pub Crawl Toulouse.” The first stop was Levrette Café Toulouse. The small bar is well-decorated and colorful with a long list of local beers. Next, we went to the Wanted Jack Saloon. That’s where we unexpectedly joined a bachelor party – an energetic group from the United Kingdom. We played beer pong. I tested my skills, but after five minutes, I retreated. Finally, we went to Le Café Populaire. It was college night, so I stayed for a couple of minutes and left. Yes, even bars in France have college night.
The next day, I took an Uber to the Aeroscopia, an aviation and aeronautical museum. It has many planes but one that stands out is the massive dolphin-shaped Airbus Skylink. The museum presents the history of flight, which includes many of France’s contributions.
On the last full day of my trip, I went on the all-day Carcassonne Castle Day Trip. The tour left Toulouse at 9:30 a.m. by bus and arrived at the castle a little more than an hour later. The bus driver announced that the bus would leave at 4 p.m., and that if you finish the tour early there are plenty of souvenir shops and restaurants in the middle of the castle. Anyone that works at a tour group that encourages shopping at souvenir shops and eating at restaurants is a warning sign to tourists that you’re about to visit a tourist trap.
I proceeded to go on the self-guided, one-way castle walking tour. It starts in the living area and takes you through decorated rooms, up a flight of stairs, along the walls from tower to tower, and finally ending by the cathedral. You walk at your own pace. The tour was exciting and the castle was amazing, but I finished the tour in less than two hours. I wasn’t going to wait inside the castle until the bus departure and become a victim of the dreaded tourist trap. Instead, I walked around the ancient city of Carcassonne.
France continues for me to be a great country to visit. After each trip, I feel like I am a better person. And that’s what travel is all about.