We arrived in France on July 30, 2026, flying into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport with far too much luggage. Our plan was to use the French rail system to travel from Paris to Agen, where we would stay for three days while waiting for our landlord to return from a business trip and conduct the walkthrough for our year-long furnished rental in Villeneuve-sur-Lot.
Train passengers were allowed one large suitcase and one small suitcase each. We had two of each. Bless the French train conductor—he was understandably perplexed and gave us a firm talking-to, but remained friendly and professional throughout. We had read that additional luggage could be brought onboard for an extra fee, but that did not turn out to be the case. In the end, he allowed us to board, and we were on our way.
Several hours later, we arrived in Agen. Our BNB was only a three-block walk from the station, but once we got there, we had to carry all that luggage up a narrow, winding staircase to our room. We definitely felt our age, and I am embarrassed to admit that Tania carried the lion’s share of the luggage upstairs.
Agen was a wonderful first stop on our adventure. We arrived in the middle of a record-breaking heatwave, but we still ventured out to explore the nearby shops. Before long, we had found a couple of places near the BNB for a bite to eat and visited the indoor fresh market to pick up supplies for our room.
At the end of our three days in Agen, we hired a taxi van to transport us—and all our luggage—north to Villeneuve-sur-Lot. A quick note: there is more than one French town called Villeneuve. The “sur” means “on” or “near,” while “Lot” refers to the Lot River, so Villeneuve-sur-Lot means “Villeneuve on the Lot River.”
We arrived four hours before our scheduled walkthrough. With so much luggage, we did not want to drag it around town, so we went straight to the rental and hoped we might be able to leave it outside. When we arrived, our landlord, Micheline, was there finishing the cleaning and greeted us warmly. She speaks no English, and Tania and I speak very little French, so we all began using translation apps on our phones to communicate—a method we have continued to use ever since.
Micheline had no obligation to let us onto the property before the walkthrough, but after hearing about our journey, she took pity on us and allowed us inside to store our luggage. She gave us a tour of the home, then left us there when she needed to step out for an hour. We had seen photos in the rental listing and taken a live video tour through WhatsApp before signing the lease, but none of it prepared us for how beautiful the place truly was. We were floored. It felt as though we had hit the jackpot.
Micheline returned just as the public inspector arrived for the walkthrough. Together, we completed the formal process of taking possession of the property—an entirely new experience for Tania and me. When it was finished, Micheline offered to take one of us to the local supermarket to pick up supplies. Because her car was small, she asked whether Tania wanted to go. It took a few attempts for Tania to explain that I am the family’s primary cook and that I should go instead.
Micheline then drove me to the local Auchan, walked me through the aisles, helped me navigate unfamiliar products, and offered recommendations on the best quality and value. This kind of genuine kindness was as unexpected as it was appreciated, and it set the tone for all the interactions that followed.
Having arrived at our new home for the next year, feels like a good place to end this first post.
Until the next one ... A Bientot
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