Thanks guys, and yes, there is a connection. I married a French girl 40 years ago that I met in Italy, and took her to the USA, then got transferred to Canada where I joined a French outfit as an expat. Spent 18 years with them in several overseas locations before finally getting transferred to Paris for retirment <wry grin> Well, you can imagine all the connecions what with a mother-in-law, sister-in-law and even my oldest daughter who finished school in Paris, and then married an Italian and is now living in Italy with my only 2 grandchildren. This move is to get closer to them while we can, since my wife has some health issues. I'm not French but still have my long term visa, and, Josiane is French which means we can integrate back into the medical insurance system here OK!
We are staying in a friends 1 BR apt for up to 3 months in a beach town called Arcachon, 60 Km from Bordeaux. Not bad duty. From here, we'll try to figure things out. My sister-in-law has a place near Nimes, where my folks in law lived for 50 years and which I know well. I wanted to take time to discover other parts of southern France that I don't know at all before settling somewhere.
Meanwhile, I'm tryin to arrange a dsl service that I can have come down this phone line. This net2roam modem dial up is ok, but too expensive and sloooooowwwwwww. 8mb hi speed is being installed throughout France right now, but 2 is max in this town.
Starting Day 3. We're jet lagged, but holding up.
I'll try to find the ideal photo to post. But it won't be me bathing in winter waters of the Atlantic.
regards, rikytik