Drum roll, please...

David was right, he said we were gonna wish we got closer to the front! So, you probably won't see me, but here's my town dancin'. We are HAPPY from Angers!

Premiers Plans

The past two weeks a film festival took place in Angers called Premiers Plans, just like the film festivals you'd find in oh say Cannes. Practically the same, really! Screenwriters read their screenplays, films premiered there, actors (like Charlotte Gainsborough) and directors came to talk after their films. I only got to see one movie but it turned out to be a great one! Well, it started out with a short film with no plot and really nothing going for it. But then, the main event for the night started, the British film Everyone Must Die showed. It was, thank goodness, happier than it sounded from the title.

Packed house.

Cafeteria style dinner during the movie. And naturally red wine is included in a (French) cafeteria style meal. Should have been watching the movie!

Afterwards the directors who call themselves the Jones Brothers, despite not being named Jones or being brothers, answered questions. They explained they were going for an American style Indie film instead of anything British which can be a little heavy or more negative they said. And they added plenty of Indie music to the soundtrack (they used to be music producers.) Another neat thing- they wanted to show the beauty of England that isn't always portrayed in British films, something I totally picked up in the film. The seaside town they filmed looked really beautiful.

They welcomed people to say approach them as they were finishing up the questions. Since as we were leaving they were right there, along with my friends Jen and Samantha, we talked to the two directors of the movie about their film and Angers which was pretty fun! I guess they said it'd be bad luck for them to be in the audience during the showing, so I told them we got a huge kick out of one scene in particular, and all in all the audience really got into the film and laughed a lot. I love that there's always something going on in Angers that I probably wouldn't be experiencing chez moi.  

This weekend, it's an antique show at the Parc des Expositions. My friend Ron upon hearing about it responded, "Antique Roadshow?! Yes!" I'm not too sure what to expect, but I'm hoping cheap antique cider mugs will be for sale. I love those things! 

trailer for the move: http://vimeo.com/57475687 

(neat fact: it's the lead actor's first film- he laid carpet until he was 50 and was then picked up as a model! The lead actress is a famous German actress, she was great.) 

Happy samedi

I hope I can start to post a little more often because now I have too much to say for just one post! So here's a bit more from the event at Ralliement yesterday.

People watching the going-ons from the balconies. Balconies and dancing in streets, these are a few of my favorite things.

The little boy in that balcony was so thrilled, dancing and looking down on everyone, too cute.

Wave your mittens in the air like you just don't care.

Afterwards, we went to the rooftop of an art museum on the other side of the river. The church in the picture was built in the 12th century and we went there after.

And tried a new treat at the boulangerie, a craquant. It's basically like a cracker but sweet... delish! 

This woman was an energetic tour guide for us at the 12th century church we went to yesterday afternoon. She just walked right up and asked if she could show us around, and spoke some English because David's friend visiting Angers doesn't speak much French. She told us the church was the only one (in the area?) that was spared from the looting and destruction in the Revolution because the Jacobins held their meetings there. She was such a sweet lady, and a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm.

Next we looked for somewhere to eat.  This is the second weekend in a row I've wanted to try the creperie on the left, and it was closed again! Doesn't open until 7. Most restaurants around town close from 2 or 3:00 until 7:00.

 So it was back to Thai L'Inde for a their yummy shrimp pad thai.

Vous êtes happy? Let's dance in the streets👏

[the link below will take to you to the video I put on Instagram]
via Instagram http://ift.tt/1mJWKRS

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny, warm Saturday in Angers. I cannot get over how different the weather is here compared to the polar-vortex weather Ohio. There's been so much rain here that the Maine is flooded but at least it's not very cold. Anyways, about the video, yesterday at Ralliement a radio show was making a music video to Pharrell William's new song Happy. I had only heard of the song from students in all of my classes during an activity we did that included adjectives like happy. It's a catchy tune, and will now be a great memory of yesterday. We went to participate and the first time they blared the song, the crowd wasn't too big yet and I really didn't feel like dancing. But people kept joining in and there were then just tons of people. By the third and fourth times they played the song, I was so happy! It was such a blast seeing kids, adults, parents with their little kids all dancing outside together. Once the video is online I'll put the link up. :)  

Crepes and Angers at night

On Saturday afternoon I enjoyed a most delectable crepe with Nutella, grilled bananas and whipped cream. I only wish everyone could taste this delicious treat since I can't find words to do it any justice.

Lately Angers architecture seems extra pretty at night so I've been trying to capture that on my trusty phone camera.

But still photogenic during the day too of course. If you, like me, enjoy the occasional building in need of repair type of photographs from time to time.

So foggy lately... I took this picture this afternoon at the bus stop on my way to school. (Still need to go pick up my bike! :)

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Retour à Angers!

After lots of fun with family and good friends, and also surviving more like thriving (skiing!) in a polar vortex I am back to pretty Angers. It seems mild and sunny (in bursts at least) so far, so as soon as I'm over this cold I'm looking forward to being out a little more. I took the cheery tram back to my apartment and slept 14 hours my first night here.

Rain and sun have been simultaneous pretty often lately.

 

I met a friend for a café crème the other day in a pretty but hidden cafe. I think I've reached a new level of becoming Angevine now that I've been to this secret cafe... And it was so nice I am looking forward to going back. I'll take a picture next time! Afterwards we strolled around the park since it was so nice out.

There were lots of cute bunnies, goats and chickens in the park, which I find quirky but my friend from Puerto Rico gave me the impression that its normal to have animals kept in the park, at least in Puerto Rico and in France.

There's the goat hanging out on the tree stump all afternoon.

Back amongst the timbered houses.

This old building was under renovation last semester and is now uncovered. I asked David what it was and he had told me that the renovation work had gone on so long no one even knew anymore what the building was. Yesterday I saw a sign though :) It's a gothic building but in the Renaissance style from 1530 that the mayor of Angers had built as his home.

 

In the courtyard of the old mayor's house is the restored façade of another 16th century home.

Bon weekend!

(Well bonne semaine now! Originally I tried to post this Friday but wifi issues delayed the posting a bit.)

 

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