Old Cars, New Friends, and the Ever-Constant Call of the Mountains

    I just bought a car - in a foreign country, with foreign currency, signing papers in a foreign language!  But let me tell you how many bends were in this road.  I started my search about two weeks ago by finding a couple of internet sights that posted notices for used cars.  About ten days ago I set out in search of a few of them that I found.  Keep in mind that I'm living outside of a small village and towns of any size are at least 30 minutes away and the larger towns are an hour to an hour and a half from me.
     When I first began my search I was certain that I wanted a 4x4 like my RAV4, but I was also certain that I wanted an automatic as I am so tired of driving a stick shift all around these little narrow winding roads and up and down the mountain passes.  I also have a pretty strict budget, not wanting to spend more than $6500 and less than 180,000 kilometers (about 100,000 miles).
     Automatics are rare in France and I found early in my search that I would have a difficult time finding what I wanted.  So I gave up looking for a 4x4 and when I found a couple of cars that fit the rest of my criteria and were within a four hour round trip I decided to go see them.  I found a 2007 Toyota Auris (not sold in the US) and a 2004 Audi A3.  I liked them both after seeing them, but wondered about the way the Toyota drove.  There was a pretty significant delay between gears as it accelarated (it's an automatic) so it didn't have any "get-up-and-go" and I was worried it might be a problem with the engine.  The Audi, of course, seemed to have lots of power but the salesman didn't come with me and just handed me the keys and I had no idea what roads to take it on to see how it did with speed so just drove it around the little town. 
     I kept looking online, but these were still the best choices.  Last week, my landlord, Giuseppe (and one of my new friends, the other being his wife, Hélène - more about them in minute) offered to go see the Toyota with me.  I had messaged Andy about the Toyota and he said it could be a problem with the transmission or the catalytic converter so I had some questions to ask.  And I thought that taking a man with me might make a difference.  Ladies, you know what I mean.
     So last Wednesday we were off to see the Toyota, drive it again, and ask some questions.  Here's how the conversation went:  (This is all in French)  Me - "I have a concern about the slow acceleration and the delay between the shifting of the gears.  Could there be a problem with the transmission?"  Him - "There is nothing wrong with the transmission.  That's just how automatics run."  Me - "Um, no, I have driven automatics my entire life and have never had one that drove like that.  That's why I'm concerned."  Him - "Well, in the US they have more automatics and have been perfecting those engines much longer than here.  That's why they run differently. I assure you there is absolutely nothing wrong with the engine."  I should have pointed out to him that it was a Japanese made car we were talking about!
     So Giuseppe and I left there.  I was wishing that the Audi wasn't so far in the other direction that I could take him with me to see it again.  But as it was, we had been gone about three hours and it was time to get home.  I continued my online search and emailed the garage where the Audi was to see if it was still available and thought that perhaps I would go see it again last Friday.  But then Giuseppe and Hélène invited me to go to Tarbes with them on Saturday to a used car expo and that sounded like a great idea.
     The car expo was a bust - very few cars there, unfortunately.  So we stopped at a couple of lots in Tarbes and on the way back.  We didn't see anything that worked for either of us, but as it was lunch time we decided to go get something to eat before heading back home.  I then spent all Saturday night and all last night online looking to see if any new cars had appeared.  There were a couple that I thought I would go see as they were fairly close to where the Audi was and decided that today would be the day to buy a car.  I really liked the Audi, but felt like I needed to be absolutely sure that it was the car for me.
     So this morning, I (and CoCo) took off on a car buying expedition with fingers crossed!  I had two cars I wanted to look at before deciding on the Audi.  Not sure I could have found the places without my rental car's GPS!  (I need to invest in one!)  The first car was not on their lot and I didn't really understand why.  The second car lot was almost imposible to find even with GPS.  I ended up out in a field where a few old cars were parked and decided it didn't look like a place I would want to buy a car.  So, off I went to the Audi to drive it again (faster!) and ask some questions and . . . . I now own a car in France!
      Up to this time I have referred to Hélène and Giuseppe as my landlords, but they have gone out of their way to be helpful and make me feel "at home" and I am so happy to be able to call them my friends. Helene went "above and beyond" to make sure I finally got my bank account opened, making numerous calls on my behalf (I still don't have a French phone).  We had a great visit on the road trip to look at cars.  I really do enjoy their company.  They also have had me in their home for dinner.  And Hélène is going with me tomorrow to finalize the paperwork on the car which has to be done at the prefecture in our "capital" which is Auch, about a 40 minute drive from here.  I have to register the car and get paperwork on file before I can drive the car.  So I won't have it for a few more days.
     But I am so thankful for H and G!  They have made the move so much easier and I am less stressed by all of this knowing that I am in their very capable hands. So now I have an old car (or will have soon) and new friends and I'm feeling more at home every moment.
     I had no idea that we can see the mountains from the next hill!  Saturday, when H, G and I went to the car show, we made a quick stop to get gas in Marambat which sits up on a hill only a couple of miles from the cottage.  And there were the mountains in the distance!!  Snow-topped Pyrénées easily seen on a bright sunny cloudless day!  And as we continued to drive south they just got bigger and bigger and my heart filled with joy.  What a beautiful sight!  Yesterday, I decided to make another drive that direction so I could get another view of the mountains - because I just can't get enough of them!
     I drove to the ancient tiny village of Montesquiou where I could see the Pyrénées.  Unfortunately, yesterday was cloudy so they weren't as clear on the horizon.  But I had a wonderful experience.  The old church of St Martin was completely empty.  I walked inside and was the only one there.  I love the old churches of France.  They are all so different in decoration and architecture, but I always get the same feeling of peace.  I wanted to know what the acoustics were like so I started humming, very softly at first and then a little louder.  Then I started singing "Oh, Worship the King" and the sound was amazing as it reverberated off the stone walls and returned to me as though becoming a part of me.

Inside the church

Walking out of the church - the old well

The Snow-Capped Pyrénées in the Distance

The lovely Autumn countryside

The only original gate left from the ancient walled city

     Then walking outside the church I saw the mountains off in the distance and it was the perfect day!  (Except for not being able to find a place to have lunch.  So many places, especially in little villages, are closed on Sunday)
     I love all the little winding roads and all the bends - a great metaphor for my life right now!  But every bend straightens out eventually and none of the roads is impassible.  All is well, and knowing that you are all along for the ride makes me very happy.  Merci!