Today is the day we drive up to Blois to pick up our renewed resident's cards and do some shopping. It'll take all morning to get there and back. Even though it's only 25 miles away, the drive takes an hour each way, on narrow, winding country roads passing through half a dozen villages. I hope that we won't have to stand in line for a long time at the préfecture. And that we won't have trouble finding parking. The préfecture is near the cathedral, which is the church on the hill, on the right side, in this photo.
Blois, an old royal city on the right bank of the Loire River
Partly cloudy skies today, as I said, but yesterday we got 13 mm — about half an inch — of rain. That's according to our back yard rain gauge. I just checked Accuweather, and it too says we got exactly that amount of precipitation yesterday. The last time we saw that much rainfall on a single day was on June 14.
Glad you got rain! "Even though it's only 25 miles away, the drive takes an hour each way..." So it's California traffic. Almost.
ReplyDeleteNo, it's not traffic, it's just narrow, winding roads and even narrower roads through villages. 25 miles is 40 kilometers, so we averaged less than 40 kph. And we waited in the waiting room for about an hour before we were finally called in. The actual hand-off of the new card took two or three minutes. Not complaining — it's done. We left home at 8:30 and drove back in at noon.
DeleteWe are supposed to get a lot more rain tonight and tomorrow.
Oh, great, because of the time difference, I already know you've gotten your papers! Woo hoo!
ReplyDeleteYep, we remain legal for 10 more years.
DeleteYes, that's true for Walt, but isn't your own new permanent resident's card of an unlimited duration?
DeleteKen, malgré tout, je crois que tu as poussé un soupir de soulagement!
ReplyDeleteOui, c'est sûr.
DeleteYay, you're legit.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading a mystery set in and near Blois in the 12th century. Lots of interesting (and accurate, she's a scholar of the period) detail on how people lived, what they wore. "The Witch in the Well," by Sharan Newman.
Thanks for that. I've ordered the book set in Carteret County that Thickethouse told me about. Now I'll see if I can order The Witch in the Well too.
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