Les vaches? A Paris?

Today I went to possibly the coolest thing i've seen in Paris so far... the Paris International Agriculture Show. My host family had told me about in at dinner the other night, and then I received an email from Middlebury telling us they bought tickets for us if we want to go as a group this weekend (unfortunately I'll be away). Today I thought I might check it out, but then I looked at the website and it costs 12 euros, and I reconsidered. Then I went to chat with my host mom, and told her I was thinking about going (kind of hoping in the corner of my mind that she might have some sort of discount coupon or something) and alas, she produced a ticket that she had from some store she frequents and she insisted on giving it to me. score.

So I hopped on the metro and headed to one of Paris' expo centers, which was actually composed of 8 enormous buildings. I wandered into the first building and was greeted immediately by cows (les vaches). Lots and lots of cows. and then sheep. then goats. then pigs. It inspired me to write a children's book "Parisians goes to the farm". Actually it was more like the farm goes to Paris. The Parisiens were all giddy seeing the animals, and at one point I saw a lady reach out and touch a bull's neck, then yelp when it responded by rearing its head towards her and making a noise. quite amusing from my perspective.

I proceeded to the next hall, where there were fruits and vegetables, and tasted some delicious apples and strawberries. The next hall was farming equipment and environmental stuff and employment opportunities. Then basically every bank in the city had a booth there. Hall four was horses and dogs and rabbits, but it was super crowded and I left after only a few minutes. The next two halls were the most amazing...the food halls. In the first one, every region of France and all of the overseas departments were represented. There was wine, champagne, cheese, cheese, cheese, pastries, honey, candy, any type of farm-related food was represented there. Finally, the last hall was the international foods, and tons of countries from Asia to Africa and everywhere in-between were represented (although it was predominantly European countries and former French colonies, and there was no North American representation). These venders were giving out samples like crazy, and I tasted a million things, in particular cheese and chocolate, which were both excellent. I also tasted an extremely yummy apple, called a Golden Victor, I believe from Switzerland, basically a golden delicious, and I bought two to take home with me. That was my only purchase, since I had stupidly eaten lunch before coming, and I was basically too overwhelmed with choices to choose anything else.

I'm now inspired to find other French festivals and check them out, since the Parisians clearly know very well how to celebrate something.