Lessons on Rain and Chocolate

It is a normal occurrence in Portland to walk outside just when the rain is the heaviest. You sit inside doing homework all morning, and the second you walk out the door for class it begins to pour. If you wait a couple of minutes, it might subside. Sometimes when it starts, though, you know it won't stop for days.

Knowing that system isn't much of a help in Portland. Every now and then, without fail, the city will faithfully soak you. In La Rochelle, however, the rain seems more manageable. This morning I watched it drizzle lightly outside, but when I finally gathered all of my things and went outside, the rain was blowing around in sheets. For this, an umbrella is no help. Within seconds, my whole front was wet and a couple of seconds later, the rain had died down. So that's how it will work...

I suppose I'm happy to know La Rochelle isn't always an idyllically sunny place, which might make me worry. Speaking of idyllic places, yesterday evening Charlie, her roommate Thomas and I met at the Salon de Chocolate, a festival of all things chocolate. Yes, this was a Good Thing. And because you had to pay a bit to get in, I didn't feel guilty trying everything. It was also great going with Charlie because she asks a lot of questions, and the French love to talk about their food.

Chocolate, gorgeous macaroons, canelé cakes, Charlie and Thomas sipping on chocolate wine

Charlie knows what makes a good macaroon: the difficult little lip around the edges of each cookie. She finally found a table of perfect macaroons, some of them with shiny colored stripes of brushed egg-whites. We also found some adorable candied vegetables.

The Christmas decorations went on last night, lighting up centre ville in festive color. Fitting with French secularism, the lights aren't particularly Christmas-y. Many of the light banners across the roads represent something Rochellais, like the two towers or boats under wispy clouds. There is even a disco ball and some trippy laser lights (red and green of course). I love the cozy familiarity of the holiday season, and can't wait for tomorrow when Charlie and I tromp to Bordeaux for their Christmas market. There is a market here as well, but her students suggested Bordeaux, and we figure we should experience the best. I'm sure that will warrant another post quite soon  : ) Til then. xoxo