Travel With Chocolate

I gave the Bean her first taste of Toblerone this evening after dinner. It was pretty much the best thing that had happened to her all day, if not all week thus far; it certainly reminded me of two things. One, it's such a delight to experience life's little pleasures for the first time, again, through your children. Two, I can't wait to take my girls to the source of excellent chocolate, i.e., Switzerland---one of my fondest memories from the Gay Family European Tour of 1982 (really we were piggybacking on the Euro Tour of the Toronto Symphony, for which entity my father has worked as a music librarian for twenty plus years) was staying at a hotel in Bern, home of the bear pits. Every morning we would swan down the egregiously elegant staircase to the huge dining room with windows overlooking what must have been the river, and feast on hot chocolate, fresh bread, the best butter I had tasted up to that point in my short 7 year old life, and jam. Lashings of jam. We went to the bear pits, were bought the most beautiful dolls that were also totally indestructible, and ate chocolate muusli (not muesli, that's the granola stuff---these are little chocolate mice). It was utterly wonderful. There were many moments that I loved on that trip, but for some reason, Switzerland really stands out for me, and what a joy to think I will likely be able to share at least some of it with my daughters.

take me too!!! I want to eat the *best butter Heather's ever tasted*!!!!