Les Sucettes

In the quest to improve our french, we decided to do something cultural and go to a movie. Considering the level of french that most of us know, we chose an action comedy, rather than a drama. Since not much happens in french dramas, we figured we'd have a better chance of understanding the plot if we actually saw car crashes and bullets and dead people.

There was a new Eric & Ramzy movie out, and since I left last year without seeing their 2007 masterpiece "Steak" (and who wouldn't want to see something called "Steak"?) I was slightly excited to see "Seuls Two". It was either that or "Made of Honor" dubbed into french.

On the way, we walked past a candy shack on Rue St. Germain, and it looked so inviting we stopped to stock up for the movie. I don't think I've ever paid so much for a gummi product before in my life, but they did have a great selection of candies. Other than the assortment of jellies, they had nougats, chocolates, weird looking marshmellow ropes, and tons of candied nuts. It did make you want to try a little of everything.

As for the movie? Totally sucked! Eric & Ramzy just kind of ran around and crashed cars and foamed at the mouth a lot. And they're just a little bit racist. But we did get to use our student discount and the candy was awesome. Some highlights:

Black licorice Gummi Bears. For some reason, in France they're extra squishy. How can one put a price on Gummi Smurfs? I felt like Gargamel every time I ate a Gummi Smurfette or a Gummi Vanity Smurf.
My one non-gummi purchase. Very old-fashioned looking chocolate hens and rabbits. I was worried they were left over from Easter, but they were still fresh.

Sunday Breakfast

I had a rough night. First of all, I couldn't sleep, and then the girls from the other program tried to sneak boys into the dorm at 3:30 am. But amateurs that they are, they made so much noise I'm surprised the nuns didn't swoop down, rosaries in hand, and make everybody do jumping jacks or say Hail Marys. Or do jumping jacks while saying Hail Marys. Nuns always have the most interesting punishments.

My grandma told me once that when she was in convent school, one of their punishments was to kneel on uncooked rice while saying prayers. She got mad when I asked her if they shouldn't have been giving that rice to the poor. But I digress.

By 5am, I was feeling a little unwell and finally went to bed. I woke up exhausted, and with shin splints, definitely feeling the fallout from my ambitious day of walking. So naturally I went for a little walk.

Since on Sunday all the shops are closed and it was too late to go to a museum, I settled for getting some lunch. I walked to the St. Germain Creperie, and got a cheese and ham crepe. It was good, but my stomach wasn't having it. Crepes are better when they're filled with Nutella, so I figured it would be in my best interest to get a small pastry to help settle it.

I ended up at Laduree, on Rue Bonaparte. It was late-ish in the afternoon, so it wasn't too crowded. I bought a Baba au Rum and Religeuse Rose, which were then packed in individual kelly green boxes and then placed in a little matching shopping bag.

I went back to the dorm to finish eating, and with the full intention of going jogging before dinner. I got ready for my run and then decided to take a quick nap instead. When I woke up, it was time to meet Patrice for diiner.

The Religeuse Rose is the one on the front, and it was filled with custard. It was delicious, other than the fact that I almost broke a tooth on the silver non-pareil. The one in back is the Baba au Rum. It was very rummy, and used to have a strawberry on top, but I ate it before I decided to take pictures.