People

We have been constantly surprised/reassured by the friendliness of the people we have come across as we have travelled across the country. Surprised by the generosity and welcome and reassured about human nature. We have already had many wonderful experiences and been shown great kindness by many people - French and Etrangers. At the moment we are staying in a hotel in Pau and the family who run it have two kids - a boy of 11 and a girl of 8. Ash and I played soccer with Richard yesterday and will again this afternoon and we will stay in touch. The mother - Aude rides and has just purchased an Anglo Arab stallion and we will meet the stallion soon.

In Laruns at the Auberge the boys who manage it - two young brothers took us fishing, organised WiFi connection at the Auberge and after two weeks said they were going on holidays and would we like to caretake the Auberge for 10 days. Our friends in Alsace took us in and worked steadily through the French beaurocracy to help us buy a car, get it registered in our name and organise insurance - no mean feat in France where the "functionaires" run the show !!

Charmie, Julian and Judy and the English mafia in the Gers have been wonderful and have passed on many valuable tips about how to thrive in France as well as taking us into their houses.

Yves and Chantal welcomed us with our limited language and we feel we have friends there and much in common as well as many differences that will be interesting to explore - many other instances of welcome and help freely given which have greatly helped to make our stay so far very enjoyable and rewarding !!