Mint syrup for pancakes and waffles in my drink?

My apologies dear friends and family for being scarce this weekend, but a phenomenal occurrance occurred! I actually had plans on Friday and Saturday nights! Well, I wasn't supposed to Saturday night, but we'll get to that (in a later post, sorry!).

Let me show you two images for now.

This evening, my host mother offered me mint syrup for my water and I just looked at her confused. Syrup? Am I missing the translation?

She whips out this bottle of bright green mint-flavored stuff. She pours some of it into a glass and then adds water. "I assumed you had this in the United States."
Do we? I don't think so, as I responded with my most-used French phrase "Je ne sais pas" (I don't know). I want a different phrase to take that title.

Anyway it was tasty, minty, and refreshing.

Please note a few things about this picture: the green drink, the candy bar behind the glass (bueno, with milk and hazelnut), and the ovalish white objects behind the nerd book. Those white objects are called calissons. I think they are delicious, and you will undoubtedly get to try these if you see me soon after my trip because I intend to bring a lot of them back. They're an easy "I was thinking of you while in France, but I didn't want to buy you something useless" sort of gift (so is Provencial soap). In other words, if you are reading this, prepare yourself for these things. Anyway, the candies are a bit tangy (lemon/melon), have sugary icing on the top, and a surprise on the bottom. Tasty.

On my walk home today, I passed by some interesting things. I'll leave most of it out, but THE SNAILS RETURNED!!! To satisfy Renée's request to see the snails, here is a picture.

They were all over the sidewalk, but I think the ones climbing on the mailbox were my favorite.

Anyway, it's late and this post is going to be insanely long if I recount my tales of the weekend. They'll come soon.