We are now in Pau

Eglise St Martin
The view from our “porch”

We have been in Pau for a week now.

With groceries at Monoprix, prepared food from Toques et Gourmandises, a trip to the pharmacy, fresh food from Le Halles and some assistance from friends, we have settled in.

Before errands, we like to treat ourselves to coffee and croissants…

Down 4 flights of stairs

Café au Lait and Croissants 
Next door at street level

On Friday, Christie and I shop at Le Halles - at the Farmer’s Market and inside the building. After Le Halles, we walk home and admire all the Xmas window displays going up.

Christmas window displays

I love Le Halles

The apartment is lovely…great for a relaxing meal, creating and “time outs”

 

 

Walks around Centre Ville

 

Eglise St Martin, both outside and in

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It’s a wonderful life

Week 2 in Chalabre, France

 

Sun is out and we’re ready to go

It’s Sunday and we go to Espéraza to see Tina and the Dimanche Marche

On to the car

On the road to Esperaza

Arrive in Esperaza and church is just letting out.  We’ve never been inside…

Paella - this is what we came for…
tonight’s dinner

We meet Tina 

Happy to see Tina looking well

  The drive home

Now we are entering Centre Ville (Chalabre)

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The next day is household chores and homework.

Washing and drying clothes

Watercolor Class - Spring & Summer

Zoom French Class set up

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We both come down with colds - a lot of nose blowing and coughing so we rest up.

It’s cold outside, too

Our last Thursday before we leave for Pau, we were supposed to go for Tapas with Arlette and Bob in Puivert, but Arlette is still sick and so are we. We are sorry to cancel.

We pack our stuff for tomorrow to leave for Pau and then go to the snack shop for  Hamburgers (?)

Walk up the street

Snack Shop

We get our hamburgers, fries and Orangina to go.

Front door looks inviting

Hmm - A “Grilled Hamburger”
And Fries with Orangina

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We clean up

Now say thank you and adieu
 to Andre

We’ve had a great time in Chalabre, getting adjusted to the time change, visiting friends and enjoying the French countryside.  My only regret is that we didn’t get any photos of Arlette and Bob. 

We will return in the spring, I hope.

Now on the road
 for the 3 hour drive to Pau

Ruins along the way

First site of the Pyrenees of Pau

Our destination in Pau

Christie and David meet us and help drag all our luggage up the 4 floors of stairs.

Christie has also made some soup and brought a baguette for our dinner.

We unpack, have dinner and go to bed.

A lovely view for our first night in Pau.

It’s the End of October 2024…Time to go to France!!!

We are ready to go…

Waiting for our Uber to take us to LAX

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It’s been quite a year since we left France last December in 2023.

When we got home there were some major repairs to our house that needed to be redone, like raising the collapsing ceiling, roof repairs (because of the collapsing ceiling) and painting.  Because of that, it put a hold on any traveling for 2024.

When that was done and paid for, plans for the annual trip to France began.  We decided to try again for a long term visa to allow us to stay up to 12 months if we wanted.  In 2023, we had gathered most of the paperwork needed and didn’t get our appointment to submit our application in time for our departure date, so we saved it all for this year.  To make a long story short we received our long term visas, just a week before our departure date which was October 24, 2024.

So begins the Adventure that will take us through the year 2025.

October 24-25

WestJet Airlines: 

LAX to Calgary (YYC) to Paris (CDG) to Toulouse (TLS)/22 hours from airport to airport

We rent a car at the Toulouse airport and drive the 1 1/2 hours to Chalabre, where we will be for 2 weeks.

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LAX to Calgary

Layover in Calgary
We can’t get away from bears

Calgary to Paris

Premium Economy is pretty nice

From Paris to Toulouse, then we get a car to drive to Chalabre

Maison Martin, Chalabre

In through the wooden doors
Then through the iron gate

Now we have entered Maison Martin

A restored Capucine Convent of the 17th Century.

Shutters partially open at the top
is our bedroom window

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October 26-Nov.1

We unpack, rest up and relax in this beautiful Gite.

Enterance

The living space

Entrance to the Garden

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We settle in and for the rest of the week, we enjoy the village.

Saturday, we unpacked and got our basic needs and then Bob and Arlette brought over some wine, sausage, cheese and bread to welcome us. (Too tired to think about a photo)

We rested, settled in, figured out how to Zoom our classes in the States, tried to get our bio-clocks to sync with France. 

Around Thursday, felt like we were set for the rest of the trip. 

Went on a shopping adventure with Arlette, then were able to visit with them on Friday evening.

We are now ready to drive out to Esperaza and visit with Tina and see how she is doing and find out what she is planning to do with the rest of her life.

On to week two…

Wishing you all well