I set out for a walk yesterday morning while Greg was out biking. I captured this photo from a bridge over the Maine River that runs through the middle of Angers before connecting with the Loire River farther south. You can see the Angers castle in the distance and that gorgeous church tower in the middle. Here’s a closer shot of that church called the “Cathédrale Saint-Maurice d’Angers” rising above the tree line:

I had a moment where I was a bit overcome by the beauty in our lives right now to be able to enjoy the nature around us while soaking in the summertime in France. This is important because it’s easy to get lost in the details of trying to get settled in a new country. Every day feels a bit special because, well, it’s France! But each day also brings new challenges and sometimes can even feel like a slog. As we look back at our first three months (wow!) in France, it’s important to look at the accomplishments we’ve had in such a short time.

• We arrived on May 6th and got to work figuring out the bureaucracy that France is famous for by registering our visa
• We’ve explored six cities and picked one to settle in
• We’ve made several new friends, both Americans and local French people, and have enjoyed some social time
• We’ve signed up for our French language assessment and classes start at the end of September, and we practice our limited French whenever we can
• We’ve each found a doctor and made our first appointments to establish care and refill our prescriptions
• We’ve figured out how to feed ourselves affordably and (mostly) healthfully in a place where the options are different than what we’ve been used to all our lives in the U.S.
• We’ve figured out how to get around Angers without a car due to walking and the amazing public transportation system
• We’ve successfully rented a furnished house, with room for guests!
• This week, we are applying for access to the French health care system

Even in the moments that are hard, we feel so fortunate to be here, enjoying this time and our first year of retirement together. We’re headed out to tour an art museum tomorrow and find a great lunch to celebrate this milestone!