Lady Rainicorn

That is extremely useful advice and something that I hadn't even considered at this fantasy stage which is exactly why I joined.

Lady Rainicorn

Wow, thank you that was something I was completely unaware of. I have also now started to get my head around regions, departments and communes.

It also gave my basic school French a work out trying to find out more.

Our focus at the moment is on the Ax les Thermes area but not even visited yet (planned for Feb) so that could easily change.

Chatter Static

It wouldn't be my first choice on somewhere to live, in that region. Ax les Thermes is a small town/village on the road to Andorra "El Pas de la Casa" and "Andorra la Vella" in the summer trying to join the main road to go anywhere will be an absolute nightmare as the traffic going to and from Andorra is constant and if you look at the villages between Tarascon sur Ariege and Ax les Thermes they are being closed and knocked down because the traffic has a terrible impact and the communities are not strong enough to keep them going, funding and work on the Ax les Thermes bypass stopped years ago and there seems to be no hope of it ever being finished despite the need for a four lane motorway through the mountains.

When it snows it has skiing but I honestly thing there are nicer bits of the mountains to take interest in living in.

It is an area thats not like the rest of France.

dmu

@Ladyrainicorn: I've never been to A-les-T, but CS used to live in the Ariège and knows what he's talking about. A quick search shows that there were only 1318 inhabitants in 2012, but the village must be overcrowded during the Spa season. The nearest airport seems to be Toulouse-Blagnac, if that's a factor.
As mentioned, it would be better if you repost in the main Forum below. Not everybody looks in the Introduction Thread....

Chatter Static

They have a Casino "The Gambling kind" in Ax les Thermes, personally the only advantage to living there I can see is it's proximity to Andorra la Vella which has nice watch shops well lot's of nice shops but tends to be too expensive for most folk to invest in property in. Lrc should start a thread so we can establish what pulled their finger to AlT. Skiing probably but the season there shift around lots because it's low but in the mountains 700 mtrs.

But for example they have 30cm now ski lifts etc etc same in Pas de la Casa no snow on tarmac so it's damp and cold. Meh

TextualHealing

Hi there- I am new to this forum. I have been based in Brussels for four years and am now in the process of moving to Hendaye for six months or so with a view to buying a place in or around the Pyrenees. I've been traveling around the Pyrenees for two months and just like Hendaye so much that it feels like a good ace to be based for a while. Anyone on his forum on The Basque Coast?

dmu

Hi, and welcome to the France forum!
AFAIK there aren't all that many members in the Basque country, but post again in the main part of the forum below, to find out. This is just a section for introductions and your query will get swallowed up by the following post.
Bearing in mind the length of time that you intend to stay in Hendaye, have you sorted out your healthcare coverage/tax residency questions?

TextualHealing

Thanks DMU. I just decided last week to stay longer than originally planned so am looking at those now. If needs be I can skip back to Belgium for a week.

ExpactMama83

Salut! Je suis ExpactMama83....
This is the year I may become a single mum permanently and thinking of relocating my 2yr old with me to France, here for some advice along the way....

TextualHealing

Hi it would be helpful to know what skills , resources and expectations you're going to bring with you.

ExpactMama83

Qualified teacher , professional public sector experience prior to teaching... Don't worry I'm not a uk benefit claiming single mum looking to off load elsewhere as others have assumed the moment I mention "single mother" so judgemental! Only been here 5 mins

TextualHealing

I didn't make any assumptions and I am pretty knew on the forum too. My impression of this forum (and it may be incorrect) is that a high percentage 9at least of the active members) are retirees or second homers. Stll would be helpful to know if yo are looking for a city life or 'la vie doux a la campagne'.

dmu

I've just noticed your Introductory posts.
A "single mother" simply indicates one parent, bringing up one or more children alone. A move to another country with a child, without a partner to share all the inevitable burdens, and tearing the child away from his/her family environment, needs careful thought and the venture is quite likely to go pear-shaped if there's no job lined up and the parent doesn't speak adequate French. Unless he/she is rich enough to pay for childcare, a single parent doesn't get much opportunity of meeting people and making a new life. French single parents have their family and friends to help.
Surely your pen-friends have warned you about the bleak unemployment situation in France? It's not the moment to think of moving to France with a child in tow, without an adequately paid job lined up which also gets you into the French Social Security System.
This should be in the other thread below, but I don't know how to transfer it. Read it quickly, because it'll get swallowed up by the following Introductions....

zoeorose

Hi, i'm a newbie! Looks like a great site. We've just moved to the dordogne, and are looking to meet new people

zoeorose

Oh and I should have said it's me, my husband and our 3 children! (is that better??)