Unexpected Drama

and not at the Theatre....

It was a day that started out with disappointment but ended with something unexpected and interesting! 

The Disappointment?  
Our plans to visit the Capitole in all its opulence as well as the Theatre du Capitole, home of the opera company responsible for the fabulous display we saw the other day? Foiled again! Both places were Fermé! The Capitole for weddings and the Theatre for a performance. We will try again next week... 

We assuaged our disappointment with a little retail therapy at Galeries Lafayette where we found lots to wish for but nothing in our size or price range! How disappointing...So, why not try that barge up on the Canal du Midi where they sell everything violettte? It was a rather charming little shop - mostly because it was on a barge and because it was OUVERT, but nothing really interested us there..(extra)

Walking along the canal would normally have been appealing, but for some reason today, it was not and by this time, we just didn't have the energy to come up with another plan, so went home thinking it had been a rather disappointing day..

The Unexpected and Interesting? 
While lazily gazing out of my open window that evening, as I am wont to do, I noted that Excitement Was Happening Below! (well, for us anyway - the locals didn't seem to even notice...) 

Several Toulouse Police vans and four "undercover" cars had pulled up, and were now parked along the street below, and seemed to be waiting for something..... later, on a signal from somewhere, they moved into formation and blocked off the street. Hmmm..How interesting...and then ...seven more police vehicles - National Police this time - arrived along with a medical van and joined the "operation". Well, was that not ever so intriguing? ..to a tourist, anyway. (extra)

It seemed obvious that this was a staging area for something.. One would think there might be a protest about to happen? But the only one planned we have heard of so far is a national one on June 6..

But yes, it was a protest ..further up the street. The local police moved in to take care of it and the National police remained back with us. All seemed to go well - just a lot of noise, drums beating, the roar and chanting of a crowd. It eventually calmed down and all returned to normal, but the police, knowing the routine I guess, stayed in place anyway, and later in the evening, sure enough, it all started up again..but no worries..everything was under control. 

How's that for an interesting and dramatic end to the day? 

Now, for June 6...fingers crossed that it does not disrupt air travel!