Today was a little weird

Weather.com said it was about 40 degrees today. This was cause to rejoice. It was definitely the warmest day we've had in months. So we left our apartment this morning to go to church and there was this guy wearing only swim trunks and playing with his kids in the courtyard. Hmmmmm. Apparently 40 degrees is sunbathing weather here.

We went to church and enjoyed a great time of worship. After church a bunch of us always walk to a restaurant downtown for lunch. As soon as we started our walk we noticed that there were A LOT more pedestrians than usual. Whole families were out walking their dogs and pushing their strollers. The dogs weren't even wearing cute sweaters like usual. Spring was in the air and the sunshine was glorious. Everyone had come out to enjoy it. Then strange things started happening. First a whole family (mom, dad, 2 kids) walked by us wearing those ridiculous four leaf clover headbands that stick up in the air. OK. But St. Patrick's Day is next Saturday. I tried to pretend not to notice but it was hard not to laugh.

Then we start hearing helicopters and marching bands off in the distance. We arrive at the Green in the center of town and the whole area is more crowded than Manhattan at Christmas time. There is green everywhere. Beer is being thrown around. Dogs dyed green are looking pitiful while children are climbing the walls of the city courthouse. Now everyone is wearing those crazy headbands and all kinds of green accessories. They're selling the stuff on every corner. The streets are lined with Irish flags. People young and old are running around screaming with their faces painted green and there are random tables full of food all over the place. We suddenly realize that we are in the middle of a huge St. Patrick's Day parade. We push our way through the crowds and finally reach our destination. Unfortunately, it's closed. Every store and restaurant downtown is closed for the festivities. We finally walked past the mess and found an open food establishment - Bulldog Burrito, a very Yalie Mexican food place. We ate lunch and watched the strange green people pass by. On our way back to church a couple hours later we ended up walking into the actual marching band head on. This was THE most festive and enthusiastic parade I have EVER seen. I guess St. Patrick's Day is like the biggest holiday ever here. Or maybe everyone was just excited to get free beer.