Today I went to Pau to meet a new friend I initially met online recently. He’s a man in his fifties and we have a lot in common, both of us retired early and originally from the midwest, and each of us living elsewhere before France.
We met at his regular coffeeshop I had not yet discovered, serving exceptional coffee, where he introduced me to the lovely lady proprietor…and then we grabbed lunch across the street at a wee bistro where the owner chef came out and introduced himself to us and shook our hands.
Several other amicable people walked past us as we sat on the plaza and he was quick to wave and introduce us.
My new friend is also involved with several groups of integrated expats and French folk for hiking, films, and french conversation, adding much needed interest to my existence as I’m once again emerging as a social beast.
He also recommended a French woman to act as a liaison to rent an apartment in Pau, by facilitating meetings with landlords looking for tenants and assisting the transition, overseeing contracts, and helping to get utilities set up. She’s a total find as it can be extremely challenging leasing an apartment as an American.
Landing in the deep countryside was a good place to start, but things are finally starting to evolve. I’m so ready to be a city boy again.
