A much better week all round! We set off early to go and do
battle with the bureaucrats in Auch, this time determined not to return to our
friends who had so generously being looking after us. Not because we had gone
off them, but we knew we had to get back as we had promised to take our other
hosts to the airport the following morning. The first set back was that was
simply not an inch of parking in the parking area. After trailing around the
area for about four times, we gave up and drove out getting ever further away
from where we wanted to be. Eventually we found ourselves in the road below the
Catherdral (which is next to the Prefecture, and where we wanted to be) and hey
presto! there was a parking space directly below the ‘Escalier Monumental’ –
the Great Staircase. I know I have mentioned this landmark before but to
re-cap, this wonderful staircase has several flights of steps each about 4
metres wide with twelve flights of approximately twenty steps. Some have more,
a few have less but they total 297 steps in all. And you know how I just love
steps! As we struggled up them we were hoping that the office would not be
closed today as well, seeing that nothing really opens on a Monday here. We
took a few minutes to admire the oversize statue of d’Artagnan (of the Three
Musketeers fame) who was born in the area before going on.
When we got to the Prefecture, we were delighted to find it
open and even more delighted to find our friendly assistant behind the desk.
She was so understanding and helpful. After some discussion, it was decided
that we would cancel our application for a ten year extension at this stage and
re-apply for a one year renewal as usual, as the card could be ready within
three weeks. Most of the delay was our own fault, and I have to admit to it. In
the first place, the address they have used for us for the past five years is
not where we are currently staying so when the Gendarmes went to find the
people who had applied to stay in France for ten years, we were not there. Then
they went to the local Mayor’s office, but we had neglected to leave our
contact details with our friend, the Mayor’s secretary so she couldn’t tell
them where we were. After that, we further complicated things by not getting in
touch with her again for some weeks, and so it went on. So we can hardly blame
the bureaucrats or the system, however convenient that would be.
So our return to the Aveyron was a much more pleasant trip
than when we went down to the Gers. It was a lovely sunny day but not too hot,
so driving was a pleasure. We made good time on virtually traffic-free roads
and were in good spirits all the way.
The next morning was an early start for us in order to get
our hosts to Rodez airport in time for their flight to the UK. It is not far –
about 45 minutes drive, but we decided to come home a more scenic way and soon
found ourselves cruising through the spectacular Aveyron Gorge, with river on
our one side and towering cliffs on the other. The day had started off rainy
but cleared a bit and allowed me a quick snatch of sun to snap a picture as we
were about to drive through a tunnel along the road. Quite weirdly, it was
raining again at the other end of the tunnel.
The rest of the week passed uneventfully. Our house purchase
is going ahead and we are being guided through the process by a local notaire who fortunately has an English
speaking assistant. We have had one meeting with her this past week and will no
doubt have another in about two weeks time. Their aim is to get all the
preliminary work done before we leave, as the final signing off can be done by
the notaire himself. And then we will
be the proud owners of a holiday house in France!
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