St. Patricks Day in France

Tomb de Da Vinci
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Bonjour tout le monde! Sorry this journal is going to be a little foggy, since St. Patty's day has long gone, and my mind can really only focus on anticipating spring break! St Patrick day is not celebrated in France. My host family had no idea it was St. Patrick day, but then again, they also were unaware of Mardi Gras! Thus, perhaps they are not a good standard for judging the French knowledge of holidays. All of the students, however, grasp at any excuse to party and conveniently there are several Irish bars in Angers where people were students drank the day away. For me the adventures of March 17th began with a bit of regret about choosing an optional excursion of more chateaux on St. Pattie's. At the first chateaux Yousouf and I excursized a bit of rebellion and escaped the group in search of a little breakfast.  We had a petite café creme and then took our time meandering up to the chateaux. It took us awhile to figure out how to sneak in with out paying, since we had ditched the group, but we made it in and found ourselves on the neat green lawns facing the little chapel, which holds the tomb of Da Vinci. It is a normal tomb, just a grey stone on the floor, but the chapel is beautiful, very ornate and luminous.  In the same city lies the house where Da Vinci spent the last 30 years of his life and died. Now it is a sort of museum of his inventions, quotes, and paintings. If I had 1/10 of his brilliance I would.... um invent your every convenience too? Post Da Vinci exploration, our expedition took us to Cheverney. It is a fully furnished chateau and royal descendants still live there! During our visit, the "royalty" were out hunting with a few of their plethora of blood hounds! Said hounds have their own doggy chateau and I was a little jealous. Some people's animal cruelty buzzers were going off at this point, but I think if I was a dog, I would like living at cheverney, hunting, barking my head off, and such! The bus returned to Angers at around 9pm and I grabbed a bit of repose before the night started. A street party commenced at around 11 in front of one of the irish pubs, Innis More, and everyone danced and sang to the english music which was intermixed with the live Irish band. A french friend of mine owns the flat above this pub, so when at around 3, when everyone had been kicked out of the bar and off the street, Florie, Julie, and I listened to our flat owning friend, Arthur,  attempt to sing in English and succeding in singing in French. Meanwhile, we attempted to play with the French version of a yo yo, which is huge and impossible. I walked home to the birds singing and the sun rising! Truly a lovely St. Patrick's day complete with chateaux, drunks, and music! Bises,

Chapel with tomb of Da Vinci
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Hannah

If I had 1/10 of his brilliance I would.... um invent your every convenience too