ShokoLand

Yesterday was a lovely time. I was up by seven, and Alauna and I were heading to the FLP train station by nine. We rode the FLP train to Ponte Tresa (where there's a little market). And then as we stepped off the train, we realized that Alauna had forgotten her passport. Since you're technically stepping into another country, you're supposed to bring your passport with you in case they check. We decided to go over the border anyway, not really sure of our plans if we were indeed stopped. Alauna did get a little nervous while walking through town though, when we saw an official checking a man's papers randomly... We just kept on walking.

Ponte Tresa is really nothing overly spectacular, although you can, indeed, find a number of cheap goods. Alauna ended up buying her parents Christmas gifts, and we walked around and looked at all the market had to offer. Mostly, a whole lot of clothes and shoes. There were some fruit and meat stands, too, but I didn't really need to buy anything--so I didn't. Then we had to make it back over the border (we came up with all sorts of crazy plans). We ended up walking back the way we came through the Italian border patrol, where there weren't any officials positioned. The Italians just generally don't care so much as the Swiss about who comes and goes. So we walked against traffic (we walked out the "in" way, so to speak). We must have been rather obvious. But we didn't get pulled over; just kept on walking. Had no problems. I was not about to be stranded in yet another country.

Then we waited for the next FLP train to arrive, and took it down one-stop to Caslano, where the chocolate factory is! It was spectacular. They had balloon arches flying high over the buildings, and lots of small children on carnival rides and eating hot dogs... We went in and checked out the chocolate museum and free samples, watched a video in Italian about how they make their chocolate, then went and bought some chocolate to bring back as Christmas gifts. Looks like my Christmas shopping is officially done. :-)

We then took the FLP train back to Lugano, and I made lunch and cleaned my room before going downtown with Keely and Deniz, who needed to do some Christmas shopping, etc. I stopped in at the grocery store and bought some milk and cereal, as well as some popcorn (the kernels that you make on the stove). We got back to Girasole around 4:30/5, I want to say. I made a Christmas wishlist on Anthropologie.com, while watching The Life Aquatic, and talking to Soraya online. Soraya, do let me know how Christmas Dinner went.

Sometime around eight, I walked up to Giardino (another residence, up the hill) with Keely, Deniz, and Katie and went to a Christmas party put on by Tahnee. We ate some cookies, and she made some crepes and hot cocoa. Honestly, I think there was a little too much chocolate involved in yesterday. Deniz and I got back down here around here to Girasole around 11:30/midnight or so. It was a nice night.

Then I've been up for a couple hours now but have only accomplished eating breakfast and making a list of the things that I need to do. Hmm, better work on that.