Hello again! It’s been some weeks since my last post, and I wanted to update you on what is going on currently.
The most positive news I have to report is that I obtained my long-term French visa! Hooray! There was a fair amount of paperwork required, and a certain degree of ambiguity in exactly what was being requested. However, I evidently satisfied the authorities, as they decided I could become a resident in France for a year, with the visa renewable annually for up to five years. This means after three months, I will be eligible to be part of their healthcare system. Sweet deal, I say.
On an exasperating note, I put my house up for sale at the end of May, just as interest rates rose and various other forces caused a sudden slump in the Denver market. So, while I have had many lookers, no serious offers as yet.
My realtor held Open Houses over Memorial Day weekend, and, as such, advised me to get out of town. So, I escaped to Vail, a charming mountain town about an hour and a half from Denver. It was lovely there, and pictures in this post reflect the visit.
Vail, elevation 8,150′, is a major ski resort that was founded in 1962. Its design was clearly Alpine-inspired, with a touch of Disney thrown in for good measure. Restaurants catering to various European cuisines abound, and the workers are from all parts of the globe. One night’s wonderful meal was at Vintage, a French Brasserie, and, in engaging one of the servers in a chat, I learned she hailed from Kazakhstan.
Pictures reflect the changeable weather, typical of Colorado. Upon leaving Denver on Friday, the scenery was all blue skies and green hills. By Monday, snow was the order of the day.
I will update you in a month (week of June 27) as to the status of my home sale and my plans around relocating to France.
Homeward bound…in light snow. The photo at the top of this post was taken at the pass, just before going through the Eisenhower Tunnel.