Saturday, 12.17.2011

And the day began early. 

Breakfast in the hotel, then a walk to--

The Market.

By the way, here's proof that...

Pigs DO Fly!!!

We arrived a bit early (???), around nine, so many of the vendors were still setting up for the day. Naturally, we would have to come back later. 

The boys still got a kick out of all the fish however. They kept asking if we could please get some crab? (!)

 This was the most eye catching fish of the day:

 Yes, it is a real fish. No, it was not skinned.

For whatever reason, the pigeons were the next favorite find for the boys.

Of course, Xander noticed the one with amputated feet right away. How does he notice such minute details everywhere he goes???!

I'm sure this pigeon (on the right) would have a good story to tell if it could talk...

Our next stop of the day was to here. 

Getting ready to go in!

Checking out a dried cacao pod. 

Mmmm. The chocolate holding tanks.

And the kitchen where all the "inclusion" magic happens (the add-ins and specialty flavors):

It takes Theo about a week to make a chocolate bar, starting with plain unroasted cacao beans.

And about 6 pods (containing approximately 50 cacao beans each) to make one 4.5 ounce chocolate bar.

Did I mention how good their chocolate is?

It's crazy good.

Here's the Santa "parade" we encountered most of the day downtown.

And they were quite obnoxiously inebriated Santas. Seriously.

Why do people have to go and ruin Santa? GRRRHHH!

No trip to Seattle would be complete without a stop here-

I spy...Talmage!

Aren't they all handsome?

Could we have asked for better weather? It was almost 60 F!

Next stop...a trip to the Pacific Science Center.

Leaf insects anyone? Very cool indeed.

 Kalvin wins the "Gross Bravery Award" for this:

 Ewwwwww!

How many walking sticks do you see?

By far, of of my favorite parts of the day was here-

The Butterfly Garden.

This is the only pic taken at the exact moment this blue butterfly sat still. 

Once.

 It was fluttering nonstop otherwise.

And then we saw the naked mole rat exhibit. They truly are ugly.

All in all, we probably walked about 6-7 miles around town. 

Had dinner here and dessert here.

 And promptly crashed back at the hotel.

Well, those of us who hadn't already zonked out in the car on the way back anyways.