During this last week in Tours, we've spent a lot of time picnicking on the Loire, absorbing as much French as possible during classes, and, of course, visiting more castles. We haven't been annoying too many French people, though they tend to look at us strangely whenever we break out into song (as we're wont to do, being American and all) or walk in too large of a group.
I also met Kiffe this past weekend. According to his male companion, he's the most handsome dog in Tours, so I was glad to get a chance to take a photo of him before I leave for Paris. This one is from La Gainguette, a river-side bar/restaurant/entertainment venue. These past weeks I've watched a Spike lee movie there, listened to an all female a capella group, and practiced my swing dancing moves at a rock-a-billy concert.
Last Saturday, we went to le Chateau de Chenonceaux:
You know, it's alright. Sometimes it goes a little overboard with the stunning beauty and magical atmosphere, but overall it is quite pleasant.
In addition, there was a Labyrinth, two really pretty gardens, and many forest-y trails all around the castle. I also met Benji, who's hobbies include barking at pigeons and gnawing on near-stranger's (i.e. my) arms affectionately. Note the unhappy European trying to hide:
French dog owners don't mind if I take a picture of them and their pooch, but strangers who are inadvertently in the shot certainly do! Fortunately, with my French skills improving a little bit every day (I can now say chickpeas and twilight, though today I accidentally said climate reheating, like reheating yesterdays dinner, instead of climate change, but baby steps, baby steps for sure), I'll soon by good enough to extract myself from almost any awkward situation. But what will perhaps remain the best response to solicitations by dripping strangers (who may have been asking for cigarettes or money or something more insidious) remains the brief, but forceful, all-America "No!" or as Kristen would have it, "Nope!" Only that word and admiration for a French person's dog cross all language barriers.
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