Toulouse in a week

Today was our last day in Toulouse. We've been here for a week now. We arrived last Sunday, for Hubby's work. I tagged along because I could and especially because I had never been here before. There wasn't much planning, since Hubby found out a few days prior to our departure that he was being sent to France for his client's client. Through Postcrossing I had contacted a member who lived in Toulouse to see if we could meet during our time here. We actually met up with her on Sunday evening, a brief encounter where she shown us the main things to see while here. She was super friendly and we hit it off.

The next morning Hubby went to work, and I walked around the city by myself. I will say this, I'm not crazy about doing the tourist thing all by myself. It is much more pleasant to visit with someone else, to have someone to share with, than being by yourself. Toulouse is a nice city, people are friendly and you can see a lot on foot. Our hotel was well located, right smack in town, so I could tour, on foot, easily.  I took a map and hit the streets.  I got lost (like every day I've been here!) and ended up by La Garonne (river).  Along the way I walked on "La rue du Taur" (top right). 

Bottom left, the flat bell tower of  "Église du Taur" and the St-Sernin Basilica.  It was interesting and very old buildings, all made out of bricks, orange bricks, even if they call Toulouse The Pink City, it is more orange than pink, for sure!

It was nice to see all those gorgeous buildings, and walking along these narrow little streets and back alleys, seeing all those shops selling local delicacies, postcards (which I bought!) and multiple little cafés.  Once Hubby came back from work, we walked around some, and made our way for a good dinner at Grand Café de l'Opéra on the Capitol Place.  It is what they call a Brasserie, which is very different from what we (in Québec) call a brasserie.  Their brasseries have a lot more class than ours.  Our dinner there was delicious, expensive by really good.

Tuesday, I got up later than the first day and made my way down to the Tourist Office, since a friend from Montréal, whose sister lives here, suggested to do a guided tour of the city while here.  Since the weather was nice, I was alone and didn't really know what to do, I decided to go for a tour of  ''Toulouse's Monuments''.  It was a walking tour of two hours.  We went to the Capitol, visited the Chambre des Illustres, where they now celebrate civil weddings and such, then made our way to Basilique St-Sernin, which I had seen (the outside of) the day before, but then got to go inside and learn about its history, construction.  Then we made our way to le Couvent des Jacobins, which is also gorgeous and so impressive.  Our guide knew her history and was (obviously) passionate about her city.  She gave us so much information, I was starting to zone out at the end; between being loaded with info, and having to walk and stand for over two hours (our tour started at 14:30 and ended by 17:15), I was cooked by the end.  She left us at l'Hôtel de Bernuy.  I got lost again on my way back, but did manage to make it back to our hotel.

The tomb (bottom left) is of St-Thomas d'Aquin, the center picture is of "le palmier" of the Jacobins and their refectory.  That building was among my favorites.  So much history in there, how Napoléon's men used that Church as a barn is almost unreal, and yet... the History of this place is unbelievable.

On our third day I spent it with C., the local Postcrossing gal.  We went to the market, get some local cheeses, bread, meats, and chocolates.  What a treat that was.  It is fun to hear them talk, with their Southern accents, and expressions, I love it!  We even managed to do a mini meet, the two of us, and send out about twenty cards.  After work, Hubby met up with us at their place, and we enjoyed a delicious meal of local food together.  It was a very sweet evening.  All four of us got along, talked a lot, laughed and ate well together.  We really hit it off with them both.

Thursday was a bit more slow for me, walked around a little, and crashed for a nap in the afternoon.  When Hubby got back from work, we stayed around and went to a place near by for dinner which wasn't that great, but they did have delicious fries.

Today, Friday, Hubby managed to leave the client at around noon, so that he could visit the city some.  We walked around some, and made our way to the Garonne River.  He wanted to see the bridges.  Along the way we stopped for lunch where we both had delicious meals; pizza for him and pasta for me.  We did some shopping, bought some souvenirs like a beautiful painting, a thin box representing the city and more postcards.  Today the weather wasn't all that great, but at least we did manage to finish this trip together.  Since I had been on a tour, I could share of the information I knew (and remembered) with Hubby.

We both agreed, Toulouse is a beautiful city and we would love to come back.  It was a fun, loaded week for both of us, in very different ways.  Worth the trip, for sure!

Scandinavian Traveller: Likki the Trimmed Beaver - Chapter Ten, The Final One.

As I write this today, ten days after returning home, after a few days visiting Oslo, sitting in our living room, watching a movie, and after running errands part of the afternoon in hot and humid Montréal, we are back!

Before I get into how it has been since our return, I will share our last few days in Oslo.  Unlike Bodø, the weather was warmer and sunny!  We were able to wear shorts!  We walked around town, explore some.  We visited the Nobel Peace Center.  It's an interesting place, dedicated to peace.  Their main event was about children's rights with Malala and Kailash.  It was quite interesting even if their was a lot of reading to be done.  They also have a boutique, where they sold lots of postcards, and I did get a bunch, mostly famous quotes from Peace Nobel Winners.  Then after a refreshment, we made our way to Akerhus Fortress, where we had a nice view over the port and the city.

View from Akerhus Fortress

Akerkus Fortress

It was quite a large fortress and you could see why its location was so important.  Even if we didn't take the tour, walking around by ourselves on the grounds it was quite impressive.  

Not far from our hotel area, I spotted this little bookstore which had some postcards, or so I thought.  Turned out they had many artistic ones, very different from anything I could find in Bodø, so I bought lots. 

I had contacted J. a while back, asking her if she wanted to meet me when we would be back in Oslo.  She send us so many postcards from Norway, showing us different areas of their beautiful country, with explanations, I felt I just had to meet her.  And we did.  Likki got to send a few cards with her, which was nice.  We had planned a two hours meeting with her, and it lasted well over six.  We talked about so many things, such an interesting encounter and warm lady.

 J. and Likki, in Oslo

Our hotel had a nice lounge we could access anytime, where they served (Nespresso) coffee or tea and fizzy water.  After 6pm they also served dinner, which was also included in our room's price.We went twice but only ate there once.  It was actually a decent meal.  Because it was warm and humid, one afternoon we went up to enjoy a cold drink and since it was completely empty, I took some pictures of the view we had from there.  On one side we had the Palace and the other the North.

View from 8th floor lounge of our hotel towards the Palace

Overlooking Kristian Augusts gate

One evening we had made reservation at a little Italian restaurant, Ruffino, which we had tried to get in back in May with our friends, so we walked to it.  Along the way we passed this impressively nice building which had a little plate on its side, in Norwegian, of course, that I could read had something to do with the Gestapo back in 1942.  We had a delicious dinner at the restaurant, a nice way to end our few extra days in Oslo.

Victoria Terrace, the site of the Gestapo headquarters in Oslo. 

The morning of our departure, the street was mostly deserted.  As we walked towards the train station, we passed the university and I managed to quickly take a picture.

Oslo University, on Karl Johans gate

On the train, Flytoget, Likki made friend with a local, a little Norwegian moose, who was heading our way.  Lucky little fellow.

Once at the airport, we recuperated the rest of our luggage and made our way to check-in, security and duty free through which we simply walked through not even stopping anywhere.  We didn't even have time to get our tax reimbursement, since, once again, the line at check in was too long, and since we had a connection in Heathrow to Canada we couldn't use the automatic check-in machine, but had to go to the counter and see a person, which meant we had to do the queue.
 

Heathrow is a beautiful and big airport and we had over four hours there before our next flight.  We , hit duty free, grab a bite to eat and did some shopping while walking around.  We looked for a quiet place where we could get refreshed and rest a little before our long flight home.

A tea with some biscuits, please.

If not in London, where else would one truly enjoy a good cup of tea?  She knows her stuff that Likki, despite her your life, she knows!  It was strange, at the gate, hearing not only French, but Québécois and to see people with Montréal's Canadiens tee-shirts.  A fair sign we were heading home...

Last gate before heading home...

Our return home is done.  Our adventure in Vikingland is done.  We are now back to Montréal's never ending road construction, traffic and fast pace.  It was an experience of a lifetime, to be able to do so without the worries of what would await us upon our return. And this closes Likki's Scandinavian Adventure.

Closing a chapter

In order to close the Bodø Chapter of our Norwegian Adventure, things are happening and one can't help and wonder if this is the Universe showing us, it is time for us to go back home...

•  Monday morning I was awaken by the fire alarm.  Not the best way to wake up and start the day, but then I made my way to the Bakeri and had enjoyed a good cappuccino.  Turns out our idiots neighbor above us, the noisy ones, burned bacon and smoked up their place.  It took a while for the firemen to come and turn off the alarm.
   
• Monday night, despite the friggin' cold wind, was a clear night so I made my way to the lookout point to see the Midnight Sun.  The sky was so clear, it was gorgeous!  On the opposite side, the moon was overlooking the snow covered mountains and city...

• Tuesday morning, I was abruptly woken, again, by a man coming in our flat, as I was sleeping, naked, on our bed.  He just unlocked the door and walked in, his arms full.  When I said "Hey!", he turned around mumbled something in Norwegian and walked out! WTF!


• Wednesday, I brought back a book at the library, for the last time in Bodø.  I'm happy I've renewed my interest to that place.  Maybe now that contact has been re-established I will go to the one near home, in Montréal. I haven't even step a foot in since they opened it, and I'm told it's a nice one...
  
• Last night, since I couldn't sleep (the rain was quite loud), I got back up and went through all my Bacefook "friends" and clean up house.  That felt strangely good.


• What better way to close this chapter of our lives, than do it in the rain!  It's been raining for the past two days, in Bodø.  Why change now, when it's been shitty weather most of our time here?  From hard rain to tiny drizzle, but no matter what it's wet.  And this after I've packed my rain boots, grrr.
  
• Went to the post office, one last time, and on my way back stopped for my Take-Away moca. I did manage, through their loyalty take-away card, get a free pastry and today a free coffee, yay me, never even done that back home!
  
• Did all our laundry, every is on the rack drying, and that closes another load for Bodø.
  
• Tonight, a first, having dinner with locals - air traffic controllers - what an evening out.

Scandinavian Traveller: Likki the Trimmed Beaver - Chapter Nine

Well, today is our last Sunday in Bodø; I've realized that as I was showering.  And, I had not shown Likki our little town yet.  On weekends, we tend to go for fikka either next door at the Bodø Bakeri or at Café City Nord.  The Bakeri has good sandwiches, good pastries and coffee. The Café is more like a cafeteria, but they serve some local food and they're not opened on Sunday.  So, we walked over to the Bakeri, and introducing Likki to it all.

After that, we finally made our way to The Nordland Museum.  We've been walking by often (it's next to the Post office), and until June it was always closed on weekends.  Since, once again, it's cloudy again, we thought it would be our last chance to actually see it, given their schedule and Hubby's don't match.

That museum was founded in 1888 and the building was raised in 1903 and was not destroyed in the 1940 bombing of Bodø.  It shows the Lofoten Fisheries, the Sami exhibit, the bird mountain, where I realized that Puffins are little birds.  I thought they were penguins size, was I wrong!  The seagulls are actually bigger than them, at least in Bodø.

Likki in front of the Bird Mountain

The section which interested us most was Bodø through time and how the city evolved.  It went from being a tiny huddle of houses in 1816  to a city which also went through a lot from being bombed by the Germans in 1940 and almost completely destroyed.  I thought it was strange not to say funny that the town was actually taken over by German soldiers on bicycles!  They've always had public activity, a hospital and health service and of course fisheries, canning industries and a brewery.

Bodø, now...

The NATO invested lots in Bodø, due to its location and being this far North, it would have a role as the airport in a possible reprisal attack on the Soviets (or others).  The military presence is significant in Bodø, 10% of people here are related to the aviation industry, either military or civilian.

Likki playing Godzilla over the Bodø model

It was an interesting little museum, nothing like museums I've seen before.  Everything was in Norwegian, only a few items on display had English translation.  The little leaflet we got when we came in was somewhat helpful, but most of the valuable information we've got (other than what we've decrypted ourselves along the way) was during the little movie showing the history of Bodø, in Norwegian with English subtitles.  A nice way to close our little adventure in Nordland was to find out more about this little town where we could live, if only it was sunnier!!

Where did it all go?

Since we will be heading back home soon (which makes me sad, and yes even if it's cloudy every friggin' day here!), we started thinking about things we'd want to bring back with us.  Also, we've talked about those things we had to get here (like a toaster!) that we don't really want to bring back with us.

Little details to cover.  The joy of planning before and after making a move like we've made.  In a month from today we will be home.  The three months zoomed by relatively fast.  There were things I wanted to explore and do which I have not, due to how remote we are.  Overall, I'm quite happy with our stay abroad.  Being an expat hasn't been that bad!

Among the things I'll be bringing back, there will be postcards.  Coming here I had brought about twenty of them, in case they didn't have.  Yeah right!! 

Carterie in Grenoble

They don't have shops like I've seen in Grenoble, my heaven on earth, and yet, despite Hubby's expectations I didn't buy that many - especially compared to what I've bought thus far here.

Since we've been in Norway, I've sent out about 300 cards - yes, that is a lot.  I love to write and writing postcards is always fun.  At least for me.  It has allowed me to "see" the world, to meet new people, some of which I'm keeping in contact with, by letters and cards.  In Bodø most cards are about ''Arctic Norway", the typical touristic cards, which is fine and dandy, because I love sending and receiving those since they give you a fair idea of the area.  Coming here I was hoping to see more artistic cards, non-touristic if you will, since those are practically non-existent in Montréal.  We have lots of touristic ones, and some are pretty old image of town, but other than that, the postcards are not that present on Montréal's racks, sadly enough.  I have a few envelops waiting for me back home, full of cards I've ordered on line on different sites from Asia, Poland, Russia... plus some from exchanges.  I've sent a lot, but I'm also receiving a lot too.  As far as Postcrossing is concerned I chose to put my account to inactive (didn't feel like dealing with the address change for three months only and then after some cards might not get to me), so I couldn't receive any official cards, but I could send, and I did!  I've actually sent 72 officials cards, from Bodø and the area, including one of Montréal I had bought on our way here, at PET airport, and only 11 were "artistic" ones, i.e. non-touristic cards from those I've brought from home.  Whoa, that means that I've sent about 225 cards to friends and relatives. Having the friends I do (and I write I here, because I'm talking about my addiction), they made sure I wouldn't go cold turkey on my postcard addiction.  I've given my address to a few and started receiving cards.  Plus given that we were so far North I made contact with a few Norwegian (through Postcrossing) from different areas of the country asking them if they wanted to trade cards of their area with some of "mine".  The responses were good.  I'm even going to meet up with one of them in Oslo, on our way home.  She's been so kind and generous with not only the cards she's sent but with her explanations, I felt I had to meet her; and I will.
 

Cards received in Bodø, as of June 9, 2015

When the first card arrived, I put it away, then when a few others followed, Hubby suggested to display them.  Our walls were all white so I took him up on his offer, and look at how it looks now!  All the blue cards on the right, are those from Norway, all from different areas, and only two showing snow, one that I've sent myself from the Arctic Circle and one I've received today from the kid who slept over for a weekend.  The two Québécois see and show the snow, ah!  As you may be able to see, there are lots of different types of cards, not all are touristic, and many are cats related - wonder why! ;-)

On another note, I don't know about you, but I really enjoy Bugles, you know those little can't eat just one cones/chips like?  A few weeks ago a little girl was passing around some treats to try at the Big Coop where we go for our main grocery.  They have items which stores around here (read as in walking distance, like across the street, since everything is walking distance in Bodø), don't carry.  It's like a big Wal-Mart in a way, mixed with a Canadian Tire and Reno Depot.  Anyway, that kid had this sampler that I tasted and enjoyed.  It tasted like Bugles wrapped in chocolate.  I didn't see the name, bag or anything that would tell me what it was, the kid didn't understand English or was super shy because I couldn't get any information our of her.  Since then I've been on the lookout, you know, in case I'd see something like that.

Yesterday while doing our grocery run, I saw this bag of goodies.

Darn, these babies are good!  Too good for my own good! Really.  Salt and chocolate, you can't go wrong, right? Right!  Glad you agree with me!  Wonder how bad traveling to Canada would affect those babies?  Of the things I, uh, we'll bring back from Nordland, I don't think these will be among the pile...  So better enjoy them here, while I can!

Scandinavian Traveller: Likki the Trimmed Beaver - Chapter Seven

Now that I've caught up on laundry, postcards, and sorting all the pictures I've took in my express-visit to France (about 140) I can write.

I'm getting to old for this. Really.  They say travels keep you young, but I think they also make you realize you're no longer young!

Getting there was long.  We (that is Likki and myself) went from Bodø to Oslo (Norway), then Oslo to Frankfurt (Germany).  We took off late from Frankfurt direction Lyon (France).

Between Bodø and Oslo

Landing in Frankfurt, Germany

When we arrived in Lyon, I was excited to meet this French lady, let's call her M, whom I've "met" online through a Postcrossing group on Bacefook. She was waiting for me with her son. We did the three kisses greet and drove off towards Lyon where we were to have a quick visit and dinner.

She had invited another member of the group to tag along.  It was nice to meet him as well.  We walked around the center of town.  It was warm in Lyon.  She had told me during the drive there, it was 33 degree.  Oh my, a far cry from the 8 degrees of Bodø when I left earlier that morning.

Place Bellecour, statut de Louis XIV

 
It was a very quick tour, saw a few milestones like Place Bellecour, the statue of St-Exupérie, the Notre-Dame de Fourvière Cathedrale, in the distance.  We ended up at Le Sud, brasserie of chef Bocuse (what they call a brasserie is really nothing like what we (as in QC) call brasserie).  We were seated by the terrace giving on a Place where there was a nice fountain and this beautiful tree of flowers.

For the first time in months, I had a dessert, and it was deeeeelicious.  It was simple, a gauffre, but man was it good!

As we left to head to her place, which was about 45-50 min out of town from Lyon, I was reminded what night looks like.  Everything was so green and we could even hear crickets!

Saturday morning, we got up early since we had about one hour drive to Grenoble where the Postcrossing meet was taking place.  The temperature was about 29 degrees.  I wore shorts for the first time this year, woohoo!!

View from M`s balcony

While we were getting ready, Likki went for a leap over the railing, from the second floor to roll in the grass (it's either that or she tried to commit suicide...). It was after all her first time seeing grass, green grass that is!  M had to go down and wake up her neighbor to get her back.

View of Likki from the balcony...

We were 18 people for this meet.  A nice bunch.  One girl was there from St-Petersburg, Russia and one from St-Pierre and Miquelon.  We walked around Grenoble a little, buying postcards, many postcards.   

Our stack of cards to be mailed

After our meet, we walked to a mail box for the traditional mail drop pictures.  Being the cute, trimmed beaver she is, Likki was supervising the whole thing.

Turns out that in France, the mailboxes don't have one slot but two.  One is for the department they're in and the other is for other departments and world.  I didn't see that nor did Likki as you can see.  Here she is about to drop cards in the wrong hole.

Mailing some of the cards

We were told the cards would (most likely) get to their destinations, eventually. Likki felt so bad she decided to go in and try to get them back... well, at least she gave it a try.

 

Once all five hundred cards were mailed, a few people left having to catch a train.  The rest of us kept walking around town.  Giving that it was a really nice, sunny day we ended up on a nice little terrace enjoying a cold drink and getting to know each others a little more.  By 5 o'clock it was time to call it a day as far as the meeting went.  We said our goodbyes and made our way back to M's place.

That evening M offered to take us to Ardèche for a nice dinner.  We made our way there, and had a delicious dinner on the Rhône's Shores.  It was truly beautiful with all those vineyards on the hills.

by the water in Ardèche facing Rhônes' vineyards

Not only was the location gorgeous, the salad I had was really yummy and then came dessert...

Profiterole, with Chantilly cream and Valrhona chocolate

It was really, really good...  On the way back to M's place we made a few stops along the way, for me to take a few pictures, like at the Valrhona factory; good thing it was late and it was close.

A fountain on a little place along the way...

Sunday morning M and I got up real early, and she drove me back to Lyon's airport.  This time we had to go through Munich and because we had to get our luggage and go through custom in Oslo.  My bag took so long to get to the carrousel that we missed our last flight to Bodø.  We had to wait an extra three hours in the airport before making a connecting flight to Bodø.  Oh the joys of traveling!

Overall, despite being super quick, it was a great time in France.  I would want to go back, and take more time to visit those old castles, vineyards and the new friends I've made...

When in Norway...

Since we've been in Norway, we've had a few moments when we wondered about some things... Some things are cultural, some are traditions, some are just plain personal preferences; they just are differences from what we know.

When we went to Oslo last weekend, we noticed as soon as we got off the plane some teens wearing red overalls with graffiti like writing on them.  They looked like they were partying, but since it was a long weekend (Labor Day) we didn't think too much of it.  The more we walked, the more we were seeing red overalls.  And then blues, and some blacks.  All the teens were wearing them.  Being the curious one I am, I've asked some girls what was the deal with their red overalls.  I was told they would wear them until May 17th - Norway's National Day or Constitution Day - it was to mark their graduation.  It's basically seventeen days of partying, dares, and doing a bunch of crazy shit which is not only legal but encourage.

They even have party buses.  We saw those in Oslo and they was some serious partying going on in there.  The boom-boom coming out of there was loud and those kids were partying.  Hard.

On the plane heading back to Bodø, Hubby was siting next to a little girl who I had seen, along with other younger kids, walk up to a teen boy in red overall asked him something and the boy handed her a business card.  I had also noticed that back in Oslo.  On the plane, the little was sorting her cards, she had a bunch. It looked like a business card but from the student, with their picture, phone number, etc. and some text.

Tonight, while having dinner at a restaurant, we had a chatty waiter, so I've asked him about the red overalls and if each color meant something.  Turns out the black ones are for trades (plumbers, electricians, etc), the blues are for sales, marketing, etc., and the reds are for everything else.  As for the cards, according to our waiter, they are often nasty and "not proper" for kids, but it is part of their tradition. 

That same waiter, explained what they call Tørrfisk (or Stockfish in English), since when in Norway...  might as well try some local fish (Hubby that is, since I don't really do fish).

Tørrfisk, on a postcard

Tørrfisk, in the real...

They dry the fish, and re-hydrate it and serve it with bacon bits, green pea mashed up, and a poached egg to end up like this...

 

I actually tasted it, and it wasn't bad.  The fish as such didn't taste like much, and with the bacon... I liked it.  Not enough to order some, but happy to have tasted it!  Like many things in life, it tasted better than it looked!

All About Food or Mat as they say here...

I've received a comment on my previous post about what we've been eating here.  We've been eating food!  Imagine that!  Even in Norway, they have this unique concept of eating food!

Here are some of the things we've eaten here, not much different than what we eat back home...

The Party Platter @ Egon, Bodø

That was our pre-dinner snack, on a terrace, which had battered & fried shrimps, some onion rings, nacho chips with salsa and some chicken wings.

Breakfast at Brasserie Paleo, Oslo

This was my last breakfast in Olso: some delicious bread with grains and even nuts (they have many different type of flour - love all the breads I've tasted thus far); some Gjetost cheese (that brown cheese made of goat's milk) - mostly eaten as open faced sandwiches or on waffles; some little garlic meatballs, some bacon and smoked ham, some cream cheese and homemade blueberry jam to be spread over the knekkebrød (crispbread, also filled with grains and/or nuts).  They also had fruits and some little pastry, like the mini chocolatine!

For our last dinner in Oslo we went Italian.  We started with sharing a delicious platter of mozzarella, three different types: mozzarella, bufala and burrata, some little tomatoes with balsamic, some prosciutto di parma and some garlic bread.

Gran piatto di mozzarella @ Olivia, Oslo

We all ordered a different main course, and each one seemed to be satisfied with their meal.  They were good and good sized plates.  I went with some penne, with bacon, chicken and saucy.  I ate the whole thing and didn't have any desert.  Good thing we walked home afterwards!

Penne al pollo umbriaco

Breakfast the morning before.  That juice was so good.  It was freshly pressed in front of us, I loved it.

That was my second morning trying the Gjetost cheese and that time I even put some of the walnut in honey that was beside it, it was reaaally good.  Finger licking good!  Really!

Later that day (which was our touring day!) we had a refreshment stop, enjoyed sitting on a terrace by the water front, and enjoyed a platter of different appetizers, which included some tomato meatballs, some green beans, some black olives and cheese, some shrimps, some wings and some potatoes...

at Jacob Aall Aker Brygge, Oslo

That was also a very nice platter.  Very tasty, and a great way to end our sightseeing tour of Oslo.

On our first night in Olso, Hubby had some horse appetizer which he said was quite good, and all four of us ordered steak, which was good.  That night I had desert, some flambé pineapple with Canadian maple syrup and coconut oil. 

the end result... at Brasserie Paleo, Oslo

That was the only desert I've had during our three days weekend in Oslo, and it was good. But I did eat some Freia chocolate, bought at their flagship store, which was a tiny little boutique, but I found lots of chocolate!

I don't know about you, but I could eat a little something now...