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The golden rays of Celestia's sun crept into our room as we began our first full day in Manehattan in my Equestria dreamscape. The focus of today was a trip to Pony Island for a day of food, boardwalk games, rides, and taking in the general ambience of the place. So after a quick light breakfast we headed out.

Since we'd be out in the bright sun all day proper head gear was the order of the day. I had a new white straw skimmer with a deep blue hat band. It contrasted nicely with the navy blue vest I was wearing. To carry my personal belongings I had lighter version of my daily flight harness in black leather.

Carousel was wearing a very broad brim sun hat of cream yellow with a contrasting geranium pink hat band. Since we hoped go on some of the more adventurous ride at Pony Island the mare had left her purse behind and was also wearing a harness similar to mine to carry her belongings. However hers was of a cream yellow similar to her hat.

Petina had a sun hat similar the Carousel's. However her's was a light emerald green with a hat band and bow of deep pine green. Like Carousel the white unicorn was wearing a harness of light emerald green.

Although we headed out before 10am it was Saturday, and apparently we weren't the only ponies who had planned a visit to Pony Island this weekend. The trolleys were packed with fun seeking ponies, and in two cases we had to waiting for a second trolley when we discovered that the connecting tramcar we needed to take was already filled to capacity.

So it wasn't until after noon that we finally stepped on to wooden boardwalks of Pony Island. Since it was already lunch time we decided to eat before starting our serious exploration of all the island had to offer.

A signature dish of Pony Island is the famous Pony Island Sticks. Long, rectangular pieces of sharp cheddar-style cheese were impaled on wooden stick. Then a thick paste of corn meal, sauteed onions, sweet corn kernels, and diced green chiles was formed around the cheese. Then they were chilled for a bit then a thick corn batter was poured over them. With that accomplished they were deep fried until golden brown. They were served with mustard, sweet relish, or a chili sauce.

We snagged ourselves some orders of freshly cooked potato chips and glasses of just squeezed lemonade to wash everything down. With the main part of the meal accomplished but still feeling peckish we went looking for a dessert to round out our lunch. The usual boardwalk treats of ice cream, cotton candy, candied apples and shaved ice were available, but there was one booth proclaiming to be selling Chocolate Wonders! that caught Carousel's attention. So we wandered over.

There was three earth pony mares running the booth that were waving at customers to come try their creation. As we walked up one of them launched into her obviously scripted sale pitch with a big old grin on her face.

"Well Howdy! Welcome to Chocolate Wonders! Can I interest you 3 fine ponies in experiencing the most amazing treat on the boardwalk or in all of Manehattan!"

The mare's enthusiasm was infectious and found myself grinning back at her. "So what exactly is a Chocolate Wonder?"

The mare gave me a practiced look of shock and surprise. "Why good sir! How is it even possible for you a fine stallion like you to have never heard of the delectable treat that is the Chocolate Wonder? If your life up to this point has been deprived of experiencing this magical treat you must fix that at once!"

She pointed over one of the other 3 mares who was running the booth. "As you can see sir! A Chocolate Wonder begins its life as a delicious but humble cube of dark chocolate!"

One of the mares was quickly, but carefully, wrapping 2 inch cubes of chocolate in a pastry dough. The pinto colored mare continued her sales pitch. "Once wrapped in sweet, buttery dough we deep fry these treasures to perfection! Then they're removed and sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar!"

As if on cue the third mare lifted a basket from the deep fryer with several cooked examples. She set them on absorbent paper towel for a moment before taking a shaker and giving them a generous sprinkling of sugar and cinnamon. They were then placed in stiff paper bowls. On top of each Chocolate Wonder was placed a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Then a little drizzle of caramel sauce and a dusting of chocolate sprinkles finished the dish. These were then passed to waiting ponies.

"I can guarantee you fine sir that your life will never be complete until you've experienced for yourself the wonder that is the Chocolate Wonder! So…Interested?"

I chuckled and looked back at Petina and Carousel who both nodded their heads in unison. I glanced at the mare behind counter. "Actually we'll take 3 of them dear."

The pinto vigorously knocked on the counter with one of her front hoof! "Done!" She turned around to her 2 coworkers. "3 Chocolate Wonders right away please!"

The bubblegum pink mare wrapping up the blocks of chocolate glanced over her shoulder and smiled at me. "You know the perfect thing to go along with a Chocolate Wonder is a cup of ice-cold rice cream. It really makes the meal."

I know a sales pitch when I see one, but that was part of going to places like this. To experience all the vibrancy it had to offer. I nodded my head. "Sure! 3 cups please!"

Bits were exchanged and soon we were the proud owners of Chocolate Wonders and cups of rice cream. The drink was very much like Mexican Horchata which I enjoy very much. Rice, almonds, milk, sweetened condensed milk, water, sugar, and cinnamon were used to create a creamy drink that was served ice cold.

Taking the wooden spoons that came with our Chocolate Wonders we did as we'd been instructed by the mares running the booth and sharply jabbed the flaky pastry with them. Slowly a steady flow of molten chocolate oozed from the pastry and mingle with the melting vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. They tasted so good, but one had to exercise some self-restraint and let the molten chocolate mingle and cool with the other ingredients before eating or you'd burn your tongue.

Finally the last of our desserts was finished. With our meals completed we headed off to see what other fun we could find on Pony Island.

To be continued.

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Posted previously at: 2020-01-16T14:32:06 | Posted previously by: dontebell