Weekend in Collioure

We are enjoying our first weekend on holiday in the South of France. We are 2 1/2 hours south of TOULOUSE in the small village of COLLIOURE. It's only about 15 miles to Spain. The area is called Cataluyna and this particular town has been fought over between the French and the Spaniards many times. The last time it was battled over, Louis the XIV won and it's been part of France ever since.

We are learning about the French ways. Many of them make a lot of sense but others do not. A prime example of one that doesn't is the phone/internet/television. It is delivered through the mail and supposedly, they tried but our name wasn't on the box. Now, we don't know what the problem is because we've gotten other mail the days before the supposed delivery date. It may be up to another 3 weeks while we wait for them to get it back from the post office and resend it. I'm finding this very frustrating. I feel isolated without it.

Larry left early from work yesterday so we could get here before it got dark. It's absolutely gorgeous. This town has been host to many famous artists including VanGogh and Matisse. The views certainly are incredible. There are many street artists painting/sketching today.

They do love their dogs here. Lady comes with us everywhere. When we stop at a restuarant, they usually bring Lady her own dish of water
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Conmmunication

Technology is a wonderful thing. I know, because I've been without it for the past week. Our telephone, internet and television will be connected this week, we hope. Time in France is relative and we'll see if our service is up and running in the time they promised, or if it will be fashionably late, like most Toulousians. Right now we are sitting in the hotel lobby where we stayed last Sunday, using their internet.

I have so many new things to tell everyone. I promise that in the future, these posts will be shorter with more pictures and less words. We've arrived safe and sound in TOULOUSE and I spent the week learning how to get around this new city of ours. Public transportation is great. I have successfully navigated the subway and the public buses all around the city.

They do like their dogs here. Lady can go just about everywhere with me. She rode the metro into the city centre with me and sat at my feet while I enjoyed my cafe at the bistro.

Yesterday we went car shopping. Larry wants to drive a Peugeot, a 207 style. We will have the relocation person work on securing a lease on one for us this week. In the mean time he is driving a European version of a minivan - a Citroen. It's a little bigger than the size of a Rav4 and it's too big for these streets.

This weekend TOULOUSE is hosting its annual music festival. We went out for dinner Friday night and as we were walking around the centre, we heard a drum corps. They paraded everyone towards the centre square where they had set up a acrobatics presentation. The pictures are from this. Today we are joining Larry's coworkers for more of this festival.





We are anxiously awaiting our air shipment this week. I will have a few more of my own comforts to make the flat our home. It's very comfortable. In another post I will describe it more in detail.

I will post again when our flat has internet, hopefully later this week. Until then, au revoir.

The Pre-move top 10

Here are the top ten most frequently asked questions as we get ready to move to France:

10. Have you finished all the wine in your wine refrigerator?
9. What are you going to do there (Amy)?
8. Will you have a car?
7. Do you speak french?
6. What are you doing with your dog?
5. What are you doing with your house?
4. Are you excited?
3. Are you nervous?
2. Are you packed?
1. When do you leave?

Here are the answers:
10. No, but we're working on it.
9. As Larry says, I'm on holiday, but my job is to take care of him and be his interpreter.
8. Larry has a car allowance. He's looking forward to driving a Peugot.
7. Not yet, but will take lessons there. My goal is to get proficient enough to take some french cooking lessons.
6. Lady is coming with us (as carry on luggage).
5. Katie (and a roommate) is going to house sit for us.
4. Yes.
3. Yes.
2. No.
1. Saturday, June 13th.