Party on a Monday night?

Well last night was a special night in Tours - it was the annual "Fete de la Musique," a huge party in the streets with loads of live music (ranging for classical to rock to rap to techno) dedicated to the beginning of summer. The whole town practically was out in the streets - including a strange old man we have now seen two nights in a row who walks around with a goat. Crazy. We danced and drank a bit and David and I met up with our French friends for a little while by the Loire. Nice time - but I didn't get back home until 2:30am as I had the duty of walking 3 ladies back to their houses all across town. Not too big of a deal though.

Of course, we had class this morning at 10am, where we discussed and ate different types of cheeses (I've decided I prefer the Camembert and hate the Roquefort). After that was a short visit to the market (Les Halles)- wow, I realized then that I really didn't know the French names of tons of foods, from meats to vegetables to spices. Then again, I might have trouble understanding them all in English.

We had a brief break, during which 5 of us ate lunch down by the Loire. We talked there for about an hour before we checked out a nearby church (built in the 1200s!), which turned out to be closed (permanently, I think). But we found a sweet game there - a game in which you throw little carved chunks of wood into a wooden shoe haha - playin' it up Middle Ages style.

Then as part of our class, we went to view a French movie at the theater - titled "La Tete en Friche", it was tough to understand all the words, but I definitely got the gist of it and it turned out to be a cute little movie about a middle-aged, poor guy and an 80-year-old lady who teaches him how to read. Simple, but well done.

Rough week for the French soccer team - "Les Bleus" - two days after they caused an uproar by going on strike after the coach ejected one of the players for insulting him, France lost yet again - this time to South Africa - and put a cap on a pitiful performance this year. But the US plays tomorrow!

After a brief nap this evening, I finished my 5-page composition about the French retirement age and read a bit more of "Le Monde." I have to pick up the pace on reading the French newspaper - it is not only incredible helpful for comprehension, but it's fun and a great way to keep up with events around the world.

Nighty night,
Andrew