Soon after having officially registered for the ICAEA conference and having noticed that the evening looked even nicer than the afternoon I had a quick meal at a Turkish restaurant and headed towards the UNESCO listed Canal du Midi which I walked along (up to Rue du Barnais) starting at Matabiau.
According to historical reports dating back to the reign of Louis XIV a salt-tax collector and hydraulics specialist from Béziers by the name of Pierre Paul Riquet designed, proposed and proved the feasibility of a project linking the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediteranean Sea by means of a network of canals (two hundred and forty-one kilometres long), which he actually built.
It is said that having had to solve numerous technical problems, namely supplying the canal with water as well as undertaking what was then considered a Pharaonic scale project, Riquet died in 1680 nearly ruined financially without having seen the final result of his efforts - "the most beautiful and most noble work undertaken", according to Vauban.
It is said that having had to solve numerous technical problems, namely supplying the canal with water as well as undertaking what was then considered a Pharaonic scale project, Riquet died in 1680 nearly ruined financially without having seen the final result of his efforts - "the most beautiful and most noble work undertaken", according to Vauban.
As I reached Boulevard Lascrosses still thinking of Riquet's inspiring accomplishment and the amazingly beautiful water reflections I had had the privilege to admire ... an equally beautiful image of the city caught my attention ...
... and it is with these inspiring images that I finally headed towards the Athenée Hotel ...
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