Châteaux Day

Today started at 7:45, with not enough sleep (Erasmus). I was one of the first downstairs and I met downstairs with John and Ecola. I couldn’t remember if I locked my door and ran up to check it twice. This is something that happens to me when I am tired or distracted.
I slept on the way to Loire, occasionally waking to try and wedge myself into the seats more comfortably, but I never figured out a suitable configuration. It was 10:15 when we arrived, but I had no concept of the passage of that time. We dropped by a nearby patisserie and café where Lauren and I split the special on 3 pan au chocolates for a discounted price (by split I mean I ate 2, she ate 1). I had a crème café too; the coffee here is fantastic, even by my coffee-phobic.
We met with tour guide Steve, a UofC grad student who is in Paris. He was very entertaining and had the French look down. He went nuts when I asked him a question and told him my name: “Sage is a perfect name for you because that is a brilliant question!”
The Château in question is knows as the Blois Château Royal and was occupied by several different members of royalty throughout the ages. It had a Gothic section, a Flamboyant section, a Renaissance style section and a Classic wing. Each of these styles was carelessly mashed onto the previous style. There was even exposed brick where the sections connected. I think that in our era of architecture, a “genius” architect (as some of the architects of this structure were labeled) would have, at the very least, been able to compliment the adjoining styles.
There were open Renaissance stairwells next to a Gothic fortress, next to asymmetric windows from a compilation of eras. Each style reflected the mentality of the role of power that was en vogue, and the building was very interesting. I really wanted a picture of me orating from the top of the Renaissance stairwell, but I had to make due with the time we had. Steve filled the tour with funny asides, great stories and historical notes. I could see myself lording over the peasants from this place.
Next, we got back on the bus and worked our way to Chambord, a cartoonishly perfect Château that is truly in the middle of nowhere.

We were “treated”(the price was included in the tuition) to a multi hour lunch with unlimited wine, foie gras salad, and roasted duck with potatoes and green beans. We finished with a cheese plate then a chocolate cake, easily the largest lunch I’ve had in a while. It is amazing how some people cannot handle their alcohol, especially when its wine. Steve told us about the French phrase that translates into “The Ugly American” and that some of our group were the definition of it.
The Château tour was consequently loud. It is a Renaissance style building that incorporates shades of medieval architecture. It was built for King Francois I, but he only spent 3 days here and drained the treasury building it. At this time, the world was graced with the presence of the unparalleled Leonardo da Vinci, and he allegedly designed some of the more ingenious aspects of the structure, such as the double helix staircase (apparently there was a septuplet helix designed but never built). This was designed so that the people ascending would not see each other person descending (a mistress going down one side, the wife on the other). The whole Château also had modern art interspersed and the building a very playful feel to it.

The bus ride back was mostly political discussions, with a frustrated Lulu and John highlighting it. I had a similarly themed conversation with John and I tried very hard to stay out of this one.