Chocolate and Paddleboards

                                         

                                                                In Place des Cocotiers

The kids had classes until 9.30am when we took the bus into the Centre Ville (city centre) today.  They experienced other curriculum areas this morning. Even though the instructions etc in text books were hard to understand, they realised that geometry is geometry wherever you are in the world!

We had 45 mins to spare before we had to be at the chocolate factory so we walked up to Place des Cocotiers so the kids could look around, then headed back to Morand where everyone had amazed looks on their faces as we stepped inside Monsieur Morand's shop and saw his creations all  beautifully laid out in the traditional glass display cases. If you have never travelled and been in a french or Belgian chocolatier's shop, let me tell you, it is a sight for sore eyes - especially for the eyes of chocolate lovers! Chocolatiers have a very respected trade and their imaginations and creativity for decorating cakes and chocolate is fantastic. Monsieur Morand is a true artist and every single little cake or chocolate is an absolute work of art. It is so interesting listening to him describe how he combines flavours of different cacao. He showed the kids the large packs of chocolate bits he leaves on a special machine overnight to melt and Abbi asked if he bought them from Countdown!  They looked like cat biscuits! We all laughed as he said he buys all his raw ingredient from France and South America. He likes combining the flavours from the two places and is reknowned as the best chocolatier in New Caledonia because of the quality of his chocolate and also the creativity in his designs.

The weather was great at the beach by lunchtime and we were able to paddleboard as well as windsurf.  Most kids had a go  at both and loved their time out on the water.

                                              Baz teaching them how it's done

Great fun had by all!   We all meet at Jean Mariotti in the morn where we'll be picked up and transferred to the wharf for our trip out to Phare Amedee. We have the farewell party at 6pm and then the kids are back with us for the last two nights.  They are besides themselves with excitement at the prospect - Baz and I not so much so!  We are relishing the peace and quiet tonight as I blog. Tomorrow evening will be an entirely different story.....

Au revoir!