Mardi Gras Aftermath

Sometimes I completely forget about national/religious/worldwide holidays here. Not just like, "Oh, I didn't know today was a French holiday," but more like, "Oh, I forgot today was St. Patrick's Day." I'll plan to go shopping one random Tuesday or Wednesday, all the shops will be closed, and I'll have no clue why. Most of the time I just figure it's some French cultural thing; I swear some shops only open when they feel like it. I guess that's what happens when you don't work in an office anymore... or have a calendar.

So, if it wasn't for social media, I would have completely forgotten that yesterday was Mardi Gras. Well, maybe not. I set out to test the Madelines from Blé Sucré - said to be The Best Madelines in Paris by none other than David Lebovitz. Quentin and I were going to play hacky sack afterward, so I figured I could be bad and have a little treat before. They were pretty tasty, but apparently not the best Madelines that Quentin has ever had... so I guess I'll have to keep trying them until I find the best. I will take one for the team and make that sacrifice.

In the park right across from the bakery were a group of kids covered in white powder and dancing and laughing in clouds of white smoke. We thought they were theater kids practicing for a play, but as we made our way from the bakery to the park to play hacky sack, we noticed more and more kids covered head-to-toe in the same white powder.

Out of nowhere, a group of kids sprinted past us and completely blasted an unsuspecting group of teens with bags of flour and handfuls of eggs. Apparently it's a tradition here in Paris on Mardi Gras for the kids to run around throwing flour and eggs on each other, as a symbol of enjoying the last moments of what is about to be sacrificed for Lent.