August comes to a close

It’s the end of August…

The Flag in the window
Reminds us that we are still in France

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Much has happened and a lot is routine.

The daily routine

Basic fit is now a part of our daily routine.

Enter the sliding glass doors

My favorite piece of equipment

_____

Groceries at least once a week at:

Monoprix

Or

Carrefour

Carrefour not Casino

and baguettes and pasteries

or

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After the washing machine at the apartment we go to the

laundromat to dry clothes, sheets and towels.

________

More interesting activities this month...

We had a hot spell for a while mid August.  We stayed inside most days in the cool of the apartment. 

We did go out in the late evenings when it got cooler.

We found out there is a light show at the Chateau from 10 to 11:15 pm

on the weekends for the month of August. 

So, we went one evening with Nicola and Peter.

The story of Henri IV growing up and living as the King of  Navarre from 1572 and 

King of France (1589 to 1610) in this Chateau in Pau.

_____

One Tuesday morning, we went for a "short" walk

with APP (Anglophones Pau Pyrenees)

in Florenda and David's neighborhood.

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Another morning John helped Nicola and Peter with loading boxes for the dump

Peter's acknowledgement
from his balcony...
Hail Caesar (mmm, Peter!)

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Saturday evening...

American College Football at Christie and David's

John and David watching College Foorball

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At the APP walk, we met Kathryn.

She invited us to spend a day in Nay where she lives.

From the Gare in Pau, the 535 bus to Amphiteatre stop in Nay:

Amphiteatre stop in Nay, the 534 bus to the Gare in Pau.

Nay Town Center

Nay Museum

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Friday, August 29, we celebrate our 55th anniversary

at Le Dauphin 

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Henri IV and Friend
Place Royale

.

So ends another month in Pau

Next month...

Anthony comes for a visit, 

then Melinda and Steve arrive.

Then a little over a week to wind up the year 

and prep for 2026 in Pau.

It’s Mid August and I’m just getting around to the blog…

Three weeks since the last blog…

What’s been happening?

At the end of July, Maria and Juan came for a quick visit on their way home from Lyon, France to Leon, Spain. Pau seemed to be a 1/2 way point and a good place to stop for a visit.  It was so great to have a visit  with them even tho we’d just seen them a little over a month ago.

Dinner at Le Dauphin

We walked around the Chateau district, dined at Le Dauphin, talked and laughed between eating and hearing the Basque Brass marching Band. Pau was celebrating King Henri IV for the weekend (thus the Basque Band) so there was music and dancing in the Plaza by the Chateau and Vendors selling food, drink, clothes and gifts along the Boulevard. It was a lovely evening.

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Our new friends, Peter and Nicola, moved into Le Residence on the first floor.  We’ve helped a little by setting up furniture and packing up their car (John) with stuff for the dump so one night 

they invited us for apero.

A really nice spread
 for just moving in, I must say.

Santé for the move in

Nicola and Peter laughing at John’s jokes

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Mozart’s Requium was performed in the Chateau Courtyard.

By the time I went to buy tickets, the concert was sold out.

So we walked to the entrance so see if we could hear anything.

The sun sets to a piano concerto.

At the entrance gate -
still pretty good view and sound.

 

Mozart’s Requiem

I took a video, but can’t seem to download it.

We stayed until the bugs started biting me.  Maybe it was good we didn’t get tickets.

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It’s hot, hot, hot, but we still go to the gym in the mornings before it gets really hot.

At the gym we run into “Golf”(Ampon) and we arrange to take a walk in the evening when it’s cool.

Ampon, me and John
by the Chateau.

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Life in Pau is a lovely way to spend our retirement.

New friends, long walks in the Chateau district, great food, 

old friends, like Maria & Juan and Christie & David, is a great time. 

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-Bon Soir-

We are well into July. So now, some fun things that have happened in Pau

 July highlights…so far

We skipped the 4th of July, well, because we are in France, not the USA

Instead, there is 

BASTILLE DAY! 

We were told it’s a great celebration.

During the after noon, we kept looking out the window and there seemed to be normal foot traffic of a weekend crowd, nothing unusual.

As the sun starts to set, which is about 10 pm, the crowds start to assemble.

People coming off the funicular

It’s about 10:45 pm

Looking over the Boulevard

 

It’s 11:00…

Then a flash of light!

And so the celebration begins.

Music on going for the 30 minutes of great firework display.

 

The last signs of the
Bastille Day

Pretty impressive display of fireworks in celebration🎉

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The Tour de France began on July 7.

We watch each day from our TV…LIVE!

———————-

It’s the first time in 5 years that all 21 stages of the Race are within France’s borders.

The 14th Stage on July 19 begins from Pau!

Right below our window!

The first turn at the starting line
What we can see from our window

One can watch the start of the Race
On the giant screen set up

Activity center for the race

Support cars ready to go

And they are OFF!

Not a great photo, but it is the start of Stage 14 in Pau

They rounded the corner and
I have a better photo

John watched on TV.  Christie and I watched from the Boulevard.

I enjoyed seeing it “in person”

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The most recent excitement in the neighborhood…

For about a month now reconstruction of Rue Henri IV has been on going. 

It is now finished and everyone seems very happy with it.

Rue Henri IV
Finished and slick! 

—-***—

This Friday, we will have company.  I will try to post photos of us showing off Pau.

EU flags along the Boulevard

Au Revoir