Different Kinds of Fun

Let's see...a week ago today I was in Paris with Marjerie, exploring the Marais quarter on the right bank. We tried to go to one of her favorite bakeries but there was such a long line, and it was starting to rain, hard. So instead we bought pastries from a small patisserie on the way to the metro and ate them in her apartment with free coffee before I left for the train station.
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This week has been a blur of lots of different kinds of fun. And here I find myself on a Sunday, relaxing at home and thinking about it all. For starters, the Premiere Plans film festival (the first film festival of Europe!) has come once more to Angers. I went to three independent films with my friends but my favorite by far was "Bagdad Cafe", directed by Percy Adlon. It is such a funny and strange story; about a German woman who is ditched by her husband on the side of the road in the middle of an American desert. She finds a place for herself at a run-down gas station/motel run by a family that is badly in need of a little Bravarian "magic" and some lederhosen laughter. It was all the better to have our own Bravarian friend, Katrin, sitting right there to laugh along with us at the woman's strange customs and thick accent, mixed with perfect comic timing.
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Thursday I was at the Angers castle for the inauguration of a new passerelle. This included not only a rather unexpected concert of medieval instruments and singing (inside the tapestry chamber) but also the appearance of two African camels that people could actually ride! No, I did not try. The last thing I wanted was for some man to give me detailed instructions on camel-mounting in French ("Whatever you do, don't squeeze the neck...") and for me to misunderstand ("Got it. Squeeze the neck...") and inadvertently kill myself. So I stayed on the firm ground and had the thrill of watching others ride; sipping at my flûte of Loire Valley champagne in celebration of a footbridge.
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I stayed in Angers this weekend too - trying to save money for my big February vacation to Barcelona, Rome, and Paris. I ended up making dinner with some girls last night. We had a Galette des Rois for dessert and I found la fève in my piece (in the form of a green, porcelain penguin). As a reward, I got to wear the mushy paper crown, that came with the cake, and be king/queen for the night. The French eat these flakey, pastry cakes all month long in January, until the start of Lent after Mardi Gras. The tradition is very fun and most everyone keeps it. Last night was actually the 4th or 5th time I've eaten the galette this month! If you're interested (why not make your own and have a party?), here's some more info about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galette_des_Rois#French_King_Cake