Un Bon Weekend

So I keep thinking I'll catch up and post on old things, but I can barely keep up with the present. Anyways, this weekend was sooo much fun!

It all started at the Salon du Chocolate. This is basically a gigantic chocolate convention. There was chocolate sculptures, chocolate inspired fashion, shops from countries all over the world and lots of free samples. It was amazing to see some of the flavors the shops were offering, and the displays that went with them. Of course we had to take advantage of every free sample possible ( I actually witnessed a tiny scuffle between an older woman and a shop employee after she got a little to grabby at the Turron booth!) so by the end of it I think we were all feeling a little sick. But it was completely worth it! I think what did me in was the hot chocolate. To get it I had to pay 2 euros and at first I thought I got ripped off. The cup and accompanying piece of chocolate were very tiny. However once I took a sip I realized there was no way I could drink much more than the sample. It was incredibly rich and extremely delicious.

Sampling some yummy chocolate

All of this ( including the strange birds) is made of chocolate. I saw other sculptures too. There were chocolate guitars, crazy easter egg type things, little cupids, any animal you can think of, and the list goes on and on.

I kept thinking the bright display lights were going to melt this thing.

Models from the chocolate fashion show at the end of the day. Not as project runway like as I'd hoped, but still lots of fun. They threw chocolate from the stage during the show. I think the funniest one was the bikini covered in chocolate squares.

On Friday I went to another magical place... Disney Land!! I'd never been before so I was really excited. The park was so much fun! It's amazing how they put so much thought into every detail. They had it all decorated for Halloween, and everything looked great! I think my favorite ride of the day has to be Space Mountain. The ride was closed for awhile so we almost didn't go, but just before the park closed it reopened and we got in line. I love it when things work out like that. We also saw a few characters (not as many princesses as we would have liked, but I think we'll live lol). I was lazy and kept borrowing my friends cameras to take pictures so I don't have that many photos right now (including my one with Aladdin!).

Of course, since it is so close to Halloween Jack Skellington and Sally were in high demand.

The other characters were dressed up for Halloween. It took forever to get any pictures next to them though (Darn those little kids hogging all the Disney magic!).

I finished up my weekend with a quiet walk in the Bois de Boulogne, shopping in the passage de Panoramas, and La Defense. Bois de Boulogne is a lovely wooded area that a friend told me about. It actually is not far from my apartment so I spent the morning there enjoying nature and taking photos.

Then I went to go do a walk for my study abroad class. Everything was going wrong. It was rainy and windy, things were closed, and I was getting bored. Then it lead me to the passage de panoramas and my whole day changed. It is this covered passagway full of interesting tiny shops. I went to one place that sold really old postcards of Paris. Most of them are ones people actually sent and they have handwritten letters on the back. It's an interesting glimpse into the past. Another place sold autographs (I spotted one of the original Charlie's Angels), and one place even had ninja stars in their display case. My favorite store was actually across the way in the passage Jouffroy. I can't remember the name, but it was this really interesting jewelry shop. The front display case held all sorts of dazzling pieces and when you went inside there was, of course, more jewelry but there was also a section in the back with the crystals and gemstones in their natural formations.

You know it's just a cute little part of town where they sell old stamps, vintage postcards,
... and ninja throwing stars?

When I was getting ready to leave the street I came out on was hosting some sort of parade/protest. I think it was for womens' rights and the equality of men and women. Very interesting.

I finished up the weekend at La Defense. A fun, more modern part of Paris that features several interesting skyscrapers and sculptures, as well as a huge mall. It is also home to the Grande Arche.

The Bassin Takis and the Grande Mosaique (By Michel Deverne)

The colorful singing fountains (they dance along to music) and the Grande Arche. I was tempted to go up and see the view because they take you to the top in a glass elevator (my mind was in full Charlie and the Chocolate factory mode after Thursday), but the elevators cost money AND you had to climb a bunch of stairs to get to the main floor with elevators (an unfair trick).

Ok, ok, despite the fun of letting things pile up, I promise my new goal is to post things right after they happen.

Currently thankful for: My student art ID card! So many discounts (Going up Notre Dame was FREE today).