In between opening accounts, getting established with the local doctor and filling prescriptions, joining the gym in a nearby village, navigating the country roads to explore the gorgeous area surrounding us, and meeting the locals, we have been getting to know the village that is now our home.

The Château du Grand-Pressigny overlooks the village and houses the Museum of Prehistory. The first château on the site was built in the 12th century and completed in the 15th and 16th centuries. The museum was built within the remains of the château and contains an extensive exhibition that emphasizes what made the region so unique during the prehistoric period, the famous Le Grand-Pressigny flint.

We stopped by the tourist office to pick up some maps and hiking info and happened to be walking by the pharmacy when they rolled up their metal security doors (they close from 12:15 to 2:30 for lunch). Since we were the only customers in the usually busy place, we took the opportunity to chat with the pharmacist about our medications and their availability in France. She noted what we take, and looked up the medications on her computer. She frowned apologetically and said my migraine medication was a bit expensive — it comes in packages of ten pills for €14. My dumbfounded expression needed an explanation, and I told her the same medication in the US is $65 (€58) for six pills.

Le Grand-Pressigny is a lively and active community and we are eager to become involved. We have joined the Randonées, a group of local folks who seem to easily manage a 12 km (7 mi) hike every Thursday. Bob has already been on several hikes with the group, which can be as many as 30 people, but I have to work up the stamina (and courage) to join them.

We’re anxiously awaiting the arrival of our shipment, and I have been monitoring the movement of the ship carrying our container. Today I received a notice that the ship has left the Panama Canal and is headed for Cartagena, Columbia. It is scheduled to arrive in the port of Le Havre, France, on May 22, then our container will be loaded onto a truck and driven to our wee village. We have made arrangements to use storage units recently built in a former furniture factory just down the street from the house we are renting.