Truffade makes everything better!

Three months in, and I had an amazing day today in France. Although it started with getting up and going to class at 8:30 in the morning, it was the second to last class with Sylvie (sad) that we'll ever have. And while this is sad because we're always ridiculous in her class, it also means that Christmas break is almost here!!! After class, we found our way to a liquidation of United Colors of Benetton. After buying a skirt, we headed off to our new favorite hang out. Les Augustans. This is a warm and cosy cafe, very reminiscent of Dino's (when it was cool) in Kalamazoo. They offer several different varieties of coffee, several loose leaf teas, and hot chocolate made with milk! Not to mention the walled lined with books that are free for the reading, the large comfy sofa's that are everywhere and the hippy wait staff. This is very unlike the other cafes in Clermont, not to mention that there are really no tables, but the sofa's are very un-french, you cannot look cool while sitting in a sofa, thus many french people don't! But after choosing a coffee brew (Colombia with a hint of caramel!) we sat down and started to knit. We had a lovely chat with the barista's about where we were from, what we were doing here, how we liked Clermont, all those sorts of things. Then the other American's came into the cafe after getting all their visa paperwork done (finally? yeah I know, they were illegal for a day or so). Then after a while of hanging out, we left to go find lunch, and to walk around. We decided on going to the Christmas market right next to the huge cathedral in town. After browsing for a little while, we got Truffade!! Now Truffade is a specialty dish from Auvergne (where I am), that I think I have described before, but will do so briefly again.
Truffade is a large pot (I mean about 3 feet in diameter) where potatoes are cooked with cream, add cheese and bacon. That's it. It is basically beautifully tasting cheesy potatoes, and it's a very good dish for mountain weather.
After getting Truffade (and yes it must be capitalized!) we ate on the steps to the cathedral. There was not a moment that was more french that could have been had! After this, we decided to split ways and do some shopping before the afternoon ran out. This was when I came across the honey festival that was being had! After seeing all the local honey people that have come into town to sell their local honey, I just had to taste some. And let me tell you - honey tasting is one of the coolest things ever! The subtleties in the taste and texture are amazing. They were also selling spiced cakes along with the honey. I bought a muffin type spice cake and some honey. The spiced cake was ok - a little dry and over baked, but the combination of spices in it was pretty delicious.
Then we went on the great ferris wheel in town. I'm not afraid of heights if I'm strapped in, but when the thing is zooming (and I mean it's going fast for a ferris wheel!) and they suddenly stop you at the top of the ride, oh it's scary! But I got some amazing photos (added to photo-bucket) that look like post cards! Finally after seeing some snow on the mountains I was ready to do something in the afternoon, but nothing really happened. After some slight shopping, meeting up with more Americans in the street, we headed back to Les Augustans for a tea and some knitting time. Then getting home early, I asked if my host mom could use help in the kitchen, she was baking up a storm! So I helped her make a meringue, and another cake that look delicious, along with helped her make the dinner (pasta carbonara). Finally, after a quick dinner, my host sister went off to babysitting, and my host parents off to bridge club. It's nice to be relaxing for once, instead of having to do so much homework all the time!
I hope everyone's first December weekend goes well!
Peace, Love, and good times in France!