We don't have those stateside. I have been deprived of more than just culture... I have been deprived of CHOCOLATE!
Easter is the busiest time of the years for the chocolatiers in France - French are a bit chocolate mad when it comes to Easter.
Of course, you can buy chocolate at the supermarket or the grocery, but a lot of people still like to go to the pâtisserie to get their chocolate, traditionally. I got a fish, but last year it was an egg. *shows off madly*
Tell me, how much would it cost to spend a summer in Europe?
Well, unless you're willing to swim, you'd have to take the plane, first. Which isn't totally free of course. If you ever passed by Paris, you could always sleep at my place - on the condition I'm around, because with the boyfriend we'll be out of Paris part of the summer. But Europe is worth it. I'm Eurocentric enough to proclaim it's my favorite part of the world. ;)
I really have no idea, for backpackers. I guess it depends on the places you want to visit, according to your tastes.
As you're a non-EU resident, you can use a Eurail pass, which I really recommend if you plan to get around a lot. I had crazy friends who went from Portugal to Rumania with it. And if you're under 26, you get another discount. Also, buy the pass outside of Europe, it's 20% cheaper.
Also, if you plan really in advance, you can try and find very cheap airtickets.
And if you go to Greece, there's always the ferries to get around, and you can sleep on the deck, as we did, if you don't want to pay for a cabin. It's pretty cool to wake up on the morning at Naxos or Thessaloniki, even though you're sore and sticky. :D
A fish was the symbol of Christ for the early Christians. "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior" in Geek is Iesous (Jesus) CHristos (Christ) THeou (God) Uiou (Son) Soter (Savior).
The initials, Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma, when assembled = ichtus = fish, in Greek.
Is it a French thing? I mean, usually Easter = bunnies
Actually, historically, the egg was the normal thing for Easter. People ate colored eggs. Then, the Protestans invented the bunny.
Via Wikipedia: German Protestants wanted to retain the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting. Eggs were forbidden to Catholics during the fast of Lent, which was the reason for the abundance of eggs at Easter time
( ... )
Heh, you certainly *do* learn something new every day. My family, like most Chinese families, was never big on the Western holidays, so I missed out on most lectures about traditions.
You're welcome! I knew the general lines of the story, but I looked it up more seriously some time ago at the demand of my sister, because one of her Chinese friends had asked her the exact same question ;)
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We don't have those stateside. I have been deprived of more than just culture... I have been deprived of CHOCOLATE!
This is a horrible travesty and must be rectified. Tell me, how much would it cost to spend a summer in Europe?
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Easter is the busiest time of the years for the chocolatiers in France - French are a bit chocolate mad when it comes to Easter.
Of course, you can buy chocolate at the supermarket or the grocery, but a lot of people still like to go to the pâtisserie to get their chocolate, traditionally. I got a fish, but last year it was an egg. *shows off madly*
Tell me, how much would it cost to spend a summer in Europe?
Well, unless you're willing to swim, you'd have to take the plane, first. Which isn't totally free of course. If you ever passed by Paris, you could always sleep at my place - on the condition I'm around, because with the boyfriend we'll be out of Paris part of the summer.
But Europe is worth it. I'm Eurocentric enough to proclaim it's my favorite part of the world. ;)
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I figure if I can scrounge up airfare... how much walking money I have would depend on how weak the dollar has become.
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As you're a non-EU resident, you can use a Eurail pass, which I really recommend if you plan to get around a lot. I had crazy friends who went from Portugal to Rumania with it. And if you're under 26, you get another discount. Also, buy the pass outside of Europe, it's 20% cheaper.
Also, if you plan really in advance, you can try and find very cheap airtickets.
And if you go to Greece, there's always the ferries to get around, and you can sleep on the deck, as we did, if you don't want to pay for a cabin. It's pretty cool to wake up on the morning at Naxos or Thessaloniki, even though you're sore and sticky. :D
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*speechless*
Happy Easter, Avari.
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Which means I should post more pictures of chocolate. At last, I know her weak point, muahaha!
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Does this mean that the chocolates inside the fish are like ... caviar?
;-D
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I've got an Easter Chicken and an Owl to get through.
MM
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Why a fish, though? Is it a French thing? I mean, usually Easter = bunnies
Happy Easter!
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The initials, Iota Chi Theta Upsilon Sigma, when assembled = ichtus = fish, in Greek.
Is it a French thing? I mean, usually Easter = bunnies
Actually, historically, the egg was the normal thing for Easter. People ate colored eggs. Then, the Protestans invented the bunny.
Via Wikipedia: German Protestants wanted to retain the Catholic custom of eating colored eggs for Easter, but did not want to introduce their children to the Catholic rite of fasting. Eggs were forbidden to Catholics during the fast of Lent, which was the reason for the abundance of eggs at Easter time ( ... )
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Thank you muchly for the historical background!
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