Fights in the streets...

I figured I might post again, since it has been quite a while.  Time is flying by here at the Chateau Noirlieu, it is hard to believe I have been here a month already.  It is quite stunning how fast the weeks are going by.  It feels like I turn around and another week has passed.  Just working, playing pool, poker, watching movies and just generally hanging out.  Unfortunately though, the weather the past few weeks has been unseasonably unpleasant, which has made laying out or using the pool rather unfeasible.  We are hoping that it will get back to the usual sunny and warm weather experienced in this area of France during the summer. Hopefully soon.  We have had a camping trip planned but postponed for three weekends now due to inclimate weather. 

Last night we did something a bit different, we went to a music festival of sorts in the near town of Bressuire.  It was pretty cool, stages were set up all over the city and they had all sorts of bands and shows going on.  There was rock, jazz, polka, traditional, tribal, spanish, rap, dub-step, punk rock etc., basically everything.  The highlight of the night though took place at the dub-step stage.

Six of us from the Chateau were hanging out there.  We had the owners of the Chateau, Chris and Rachel (UK), Me, Jon (UK), Eric (USA) and his fiancee, Jess(UK).  Jon and I were off to one side, Eric and Jess were close by and Chris and Rachel were dancing.  This French couple took exception to their dancing and started getting in Rachel's face.  The confrontation got a little heated but the French couple walked away from Rachel and Chris.  Well, Chris found out what was going on (he doesn't speak french, Rachel does) and found out the names they were called, so he flipped the bird.  The French guy in the couple came up and grabbed Chris. 

Unfortunately for this French guy, he didn't know there were four of us with Chris, so Eric goes charging in takes the Frenchie down and Jon and I follow shortly behind.  BRAWL!!!!  His friends and girlfriend get into it, Jess gets into it, three of us, Eric, Jon and I, on this one French guy and friends, and the girls were also in there, yelling and screaming.   The Frenchie's friends take on Chris.  The details are a bit fuzzy and a lot of random people seemed to get involved (I swear I saw people fighting each other who weren't affiliated with any of us) but by the time it ended I had the original French guy immobilized in a full nelson hold and his girlfriend was pulling Eric's hair. Over a dozen people were involved.  It was pretty crazy.

Funny thing about this whole thing? It took place in the Police station parking lot.  Being France though, the Police station was closed.

No serious injuries, Eric's hand got a little messed up and Chris ended up with a bloody lip, but nothing to write home about.

Other than that, most days are pretty similar here.  There isn't too much to do, just hang out.  The village has which we are in has less than 150 people.  There is a church of course.  The post office, bakery and bar are the same place of business and it is open about 4 days a week.  No stores, shops or restaurants here at all.  Oh, I forgot, there is a telephone booth.


I have an idea for the next stage of my trip.  It involves walking from here (or a place 18km from here, where one of the trails is) all the way to the west side of Spain.  The Camino Compostela.  It's a loooooong walk, but it is cheap, and I feel like I want to do it.  It will take several weeks to do and I have nothing else going on so why the hell not?

Well that's all I gots for now, I'll try to be more regular with my updates :)