This is the second in our series retracing the history of Toulouse through the names of streets.
Here we wander down some 11th and 12th century streets that tell a story of the past of Toulouse – how people earned a living and how some became very rich. We discover some fairly unknown facts about the trades of Toulouse in the past – did you know that dice were made in Toulouse?
We uncover the site of a religious site dating to the 5th century BC and the place where a famous singer lived and wrote songs about Toulouse in the 20th century. Come with us as we discover the textile trades that were thriving in Toulouse and that no longer exist as history comes alive before our very eyes.
Enjoy the city’s lively atmosphere. It’s a very hip, young area with a surprising number of bars, cafes, boutiques and galleries. The Carmes district is full of cafés, bars restaurants and speciality shops. The neighborhood is characterized by many narrow, beautiful streets and colorful houses.
One of the liveliest cities in France, Toulouse has become a popular destination for many city lovers in recent years. A weekend in Toulouse is a must if you have a passion for architecture, coluorful markets, French cuisine and chic boutiques!
Enjoying Toulouse means taking time to live. Stroll the bustling streets for shopping, stroll through the markets that come in all flavors and colours, or just linger in traditional French cafes…the vibe here reflects the Southern personality: authentic, friendly and welcoming. Toulouse is also very good at welcoming tourists and offering them the opportunity to sit around a table and enjoy local specialties (foie gras, duck, sausages, Cassoulet, wine and cheese…).
Explore the city’s architecture and ancient landmarks.
It is a sprawling modern city with an ancient heart, the center of which is the Place du Capitole. It’s an eclectic mix of young and old and has more of a feeling of a group of local villages than one of the biggest cities in France – no wonder Toulouse is consistently voted as one of the best places to live in France and we just love it.
After reading the text, try this quiz to test your comprehension of the words highlighted in bold print, and learn words which often used in tourist guide books.
On this special day learn the words to this global, romantic song, it has been downloaded, bought and used at weddings millions of times all over the word.
You can listen to the song before or after the quiz, alone, in class or with your sweetheart 🙂
The last Thursday in November is a major celebration day in the USA, it is a national holiday and a time for friends and family to get together.
You have surely heard of Thanksgiving, it is often portrayed in American movies and TV series, but do you really understand why it’s so important to Americans.
Try this 20 question step by step quiz which will give the answers to all your questions.
The quiz of course covers the FACTS of the events, but before doing the quiz it is important to note that the Thanksgiving celebration is not universally accepted and is indeed quite controversial.
For many Americans Thanksgiving is a special holiday and a precious time spent with friends and family.
However, for others, the celebration is deeply controversial – as Thanksgiving has a contentious history that goes far beyond when the first feast was held.
For many Thanksgiving is considered to be a “national day of mourning to be viewed as terrible time when colonists wiped out Native Americans and their culture. They feel that this period of history is “white-washed”- which leads many Americans to ignore the holiday.
Many Native Americans see Thanksgiving as an embellished view of “Pilgrims and Natives looking past their differences” to break bread together. Critics of the Thanksgiving myth protest that young children in American schools are taught about Thanksgiving in school in a totally unrealistic way which ignores the harsh reality of the bloody conflict between the colonists and the Native Americans.
For several decades now, the militant group, the United American Indians of New England (UAINE), has staged demonstrations in Plymouth each Thanksgiving their intention being to awaken the country to the darker side of Plymouth.
So although Thanksgiving may be a celebration of people coming together, that is not the whole story when it comes to the history of the day.
So while doing the quiz it’s important to bear in mind the debate between “the heroic Pilgrim fathers” and the “day of national shame”.
The How to Understand Thanksgiving Quiz
Have you heard about Thanksgiving but have never really understood what the
fuss is about ? The 20 questions in this step by step quiz will help you to
appreciate why Americans go crazy on the last Thursday of November every
year.
Develop your listening skills by watching the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MHCL4yRiM0&t=1s
