Parisian Halloween

A little bit of dyslexia can be a fun companion when you're traveling. You look at a map and instead of seeing 93, you see just 3 and go merrily on your way wandering down streets you hadn't meant to. That's how I discovered this classic chocolatier, La Mere de Famille, founded in 1761 on 35, rue du Faubourg Montmartre. The surprise was seeing the windows full of elaborate Halloween candies.

Solid chocolate pumpkins, marzipan pumpkins. Orange and black everywhere. Creepy crawly spiders too.

More pumpkins on 15, rue Montorgueil, in Charles Chocolatier. Sara Turnbull writes extensively in Almost French of this quartier. I thought I saw her little white Westie in the street. Like an idiot, I called out, "Maddie"? The Frenchman holding the dog's lead said, "Maddie? That's a girl's name. This is Tarzan. He's a boy". Vive la difference in France!

More pumpkins seen on a day trip to Reims at De Neuville Chocolatier.

Here's a gorgeous box of Fall and Halloween bonbons from De Neuville. I just admired them. No tasting. I had the chocolate show that night.

Look at this amazing witch with straw hair in the window. I'd heard France has embraced Halloween with a vengence.

Roselyne said I must not miss this traditional chocolatier in Reims, Maison Deleans on 20, Rue Cérès.

The black cat in Delean's window caught my eye. I know I'm late reporting on Halloween in France..but I departed the afternoon of the 31st of October, so I missed seeing the costumes. After my 7 hr flight into JFK, I was surprised to see the baggage/customs person wearing a tiger's tail, pointy orange ears + painted-on whiskers.

Then it dawned on me =

it's HALLOWEEN!