The very beginning of our French adventure

From Melbourne to the Midi-Pyrénées: How we fell in love with the Lot

In our mid-20s, Dale and I were lucky enough to do what many dream of: we hit pause on the 9-to-5 grind and hit the road. With good jobs under our belts and an unshakeable curiosity about the world, we made the most of it, jetting off from our home base in Melbourne, Australia to see as much of the world as possible. And let’s be real: when you’re an Aussie, you can’t exactly nip over to Europe for a weekend; it’s a serious journey. But like many of our fellow wanderlust-filled Aussies, we saved up, planned big, and spent months abroad.

And somewhere along the way, France got under our skin.

There was just something about it – the charm of the countryside, the rhythm of the lifestyle, the beauty everywhere you look. My love affair with France never really ended; it lingered, tugging at me over the years. Eventually, it became more than a dream. It became a plan.

So, after many late-night chats, with wine and cheese, staring at spreadsheets and budget recalculations (and recalculating again…), we decided: we were doing this. We were going to move to France.

Now for the hard part: where the heck in France?

France isn’t small. It’s a tapestry of landscapes and lifestyles, from alpine peaks to lavender fields to chic cities. There are 101 departments (like counties), and narrowing it down was like scrolling through a real estate app with a world of options and a world of questions. City or village? Vineyard views or mountain trails? Somewhere with sunshine but not sweltering heat. And close to airports, please, we still wanted to travel!

So, we took out a metaphorical red pen and slashed the northern half. Too much rain. Too little sun. We focused our search on the southern half, somewhere between Bordeaux and Toulouse. That’s when the Lot department popped onto our radar.

The Lot: where it all clicked

Tucked away in the southwest of France, the Lot is part of the former Midi-Pyrénées region. Think dramatic hilltop villages (hello Rocamadour), caves full of prehistoric art, and winding rivers that practically beg for a picnic. The wine? Heavenly. The views? Even better.

But we couldn’t just choose a department; we needed to find the spot. So, we did what any over-committed dreamers would do: we jumped on a plane the minute COVID lockdowns lifted.

We flew into Nice and road-tripped across the south, soaking in the scenery and stopping in dreamy towns all along the way. The Ariege, the Gers, the Tarn, the Tarn-et-Garonne… And finally, we landed in the Lot.

Armed with a shortlist and a whole lot of optimism, we met with real estate agents (immobiliers). That’s when we met a wonderful agent who said, “Come see this place.” We did, and that was it. Even in the middle of a grey, wintry afternoon, we could see the magic. It had potential. It had soul. We didn’t plan on buying during that trip. We hadn’t even listed our Melbourne home yet.

But we bought it anyway.

Cue frantic international phone calls and a speedy turnaround. By the time we landed back in Australia, the ‘For Sale’ sign was up. One open house later, our home sold – just like that. It honestly felt like the universe had lined it all up for us.

And that’s how our little French adventure began! Now it’s your turn to experience the laid-back lifestyle for yourself. Whether you fancy a stay in our cosy farmhouse or charming gîte, we’d love to have you. Take a peek at what’s waiting for you at La Gaillardenque Gites!