Lemon

It's been another challenging (and at times, rewarding) week. Had a student refuse point blank to play a game, I would've leapt at the chance at that age. I don't think that children know what they've got coming to them at the age of 15. Good luck in the real world! Then, tutoring the little kids who refuse to do anything except play with the MILLION toys they have in their play room and shout completely unrelated and irrelevant words at me. Fabulous.

However, another weekend is here, thank God!

Yesterday I spent an absolutely awesome day in Le Mans.

Toute seule, I tottered off to the train station in Nogent and found myself in Le Mans by half 11. An ungodly hour for the weekend but nonetheless..

Off I set, on my quest to find the tourist information centre, vital for us voyageurs if were going to have any hope of knowing where we are. An hour later (Le Mans is definitely bigger than I thought), I arrived at the Office de Tourisme and hastily found myself a map. The town itself is absolutely stunning. There is a mixture of Roman and Gothic architecture which really is awe inspiring. So much so that I began snapping away at everything in sight. However, it was a shame I didn't capture the most dramatic shoelace tying I have ever witnessed in my life. It really was a sight to behold.

I went into a cute little brasserie for a spot of lunch, tagliatelle carbonara followed by a crème brûlée, don't mind if I do. Slightly concerning however, that my carbonara came with a raw egg just chilling on the top. Delightfully full and glowing with the prospect of the day ahead, I made my way to the Musée de Tessé, which features a recreation of an Egyptian tomb on the bottom floor. Turns out I was the only one there and had no shame in taking a picture of myself doing the best impression of Lara Croft in The Last Revelation that I could. Then glanced at the ceiling to see, in my horror, a little CCTV camera and made a swift exit, carrying my new found shame all over my face.

Following this, I had a holy moment and decided to visit the beautiful cathedral in the city. My first thought was "how on Earth do I get in", followed quickly by "They definitely need to sack the organist", once I had worked out how doors work. I marvelled at the stained glass windows and even took the liberty of lighting a candle, and almost setting myself on fire. Holy moment (and potential burning) over, I headed back out into the fresh air, where I could escape the bum notes of the organist and the possibility of a spiritual discovery.

By this time, my legs were crying at me to stop so I hopped on the train back to Nogent.

In the evening, I ventured out to the crêperie with Ara and Bertrand, sampling a galette with camembert and jambon de pays (kind of like parma ham, all smoky and that) and the classic lemon and sugar combo for afters. Delicious. Following that, we popped along to Vista Verde for another beer fuelled evening, peppered with mockery of me because last week some moustachioed man got all leery and gave me the creepiest bise on the cheek I have ever experienced, complete with a slow motion grope of the neck. Lovely. So now, everyone who works at the bar leers at me with a faux finger moustache, laughing at my expense. Excellent!

All in all, though, a wonderful day.

I've just got back from a trip to the market in the centre of town. Seeing dead rabbits and peasants, complete with head and fur/feathers is enough to make my stomach churn in the morning but in all fairness, the market is pretty incredible. I came home with a bag of chicken wings and more oranges than I could have hope of eating in a year. Not too bad.

So on to today, I'm going to relax on my bed this morning, mainly because its -1 degrees (say waah?) but also because I feel ridiculously lazy and am again popping out to Vista Verde this evening, just so I can be ridiculed yet again. Because I love it so much.

Big bisous from France