(no subject)
So, my first two full days in France! I'm here to report that I haven't spent them entirely cowering in my hostel room. I've been out and about (when not sleeping), but as we say on the internets, pictures or it didn't happen!
So:
Have the fourteenth-century Château d'Angers earlier today!
There it is, looming distantly but decisively across the Maine from the Parc de Balzac, which is part of the really nice green belt on the other side of the river from the main city, and connected to the park where my hostel is.
And here's one of the corner towers, taken from the gardens around the bottom (possibly once the moat?!)
And a view of Angers from the ramparts (oh yes, I did go inside - for free even, since this weekend is the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine, and historical sites are open for free and having special free events). I'm not sure of the name of the church on the left (maaaaybe Notre-Dame d'Angers?), but the tower on the right is the Tour Saint-Aubin. I ate my lunch in the little square behind it. Super-awesome!
And finally, the walls on the city side of the château, and the gates, although hideously overexposed. But still awesome, I think!
Anyway, I've made a certain amount of progress at getting myself and my plans organized since I arrived. My acquisition yesterday of a tiny travel kettle and food went a long way toward making me feel better (the tea probably helped too), and then I spend a nice couple of hours wandering around and sitting and reading in the Parc de Lac de Maine. Today I was more ambitious and ventured into the city centre. I located the main branch of the bibliothèque municipale where the medieval stuff is, and got a map of the city from the tourism office, and even acquired a small vegetarian sandwich and a drink for lunch. And, of course, I went to the castle!
My spoken French has been pretty dire so far (and the fact that I'm nervous about it isn't helping at all), but I've done pretty well so far understanding what people are saying to me, and so far no one has insisted on speaking English to me or on giving me English pamphlets despite their skepticism about my French. Hopefully that will improve given time.
Tomorrow the departmental archives are having a special open house, so I'm probably going to try and go to that. I'm currently optimistic that Monday will find me sallying forth to the archives and not hiding under my bed.
So:
Have the fourteenth-century Château d'Angers earlier today!
There it is, looming distantly but decisively across the Maine from the Parc de Balzac, which is part of the really nice green belt on the other side of the river from the main city, and connected to the park where my hostel is.
And here's one of the corner towers, taken from the gardens around the bottom (possibly once the moat?!)
And a view of Angers from the ramparts (oh yes, I did go inside - for free even, since this weekend is the Journées Européennes du Patrimoine, and historical sites are open for free and having special free events). I'm not sure of the name of the church on the left (maaaaybe Notre-Dame d'Angers?), but the tower on the right is the Tour Saint-Aubin. I ate my lunch in the little square behind it. Super-awesome!
And finally, the walls on the city side of the château, and the gates, although hideously overexposed. But still awesome, I think!
Anyway, I've made a certain amount of progress at getting myself and my plans organized since I arrived. My acquisition yesterday of a tiny travel kettle and food went a long way toward making me feel better (the tea probably helped too), and then I spend a nice couple of hours wandering around and sitting and reading in the Parc de Lac de Maine. Today I was more ambitious and ventured into the city centre. I located the main branch of the bibliothèque municipale where the medieval stuff is, and got a map of the city from the tourism office, and even acquired a small vegetarian sandwich and a drink for lunch. And, of course, I went to the castle!
My spoken French has been pretty dire so far (and the fact that I'm nervous about it isn't helping at all), but I've done pretty well so far understanding what people are saying to me, and so far no one has insisted on speaking English to me or on giving me English pamphlets despite their skepticism about my French. Hopefully that will improve given time.
Tomorrow the departmental archives are having a special open house, so I'm probably going to try and go to that. I'm currently optimistic that Monday will find me sallying forth to the archives and not hiding under my bed.