Portugal chocolate festival concludes with catwalk

An oriental and chocolate-inspired catwalk closed Portugal's 12th International Chocolate Festival this weekend in Obidos, Portugal. This year a giant paper dragon took over the stage and performers entertained the crowd with fire, before models dressed by designers Jaqueline Roxo and Kristine stormed in. Obidos Mayor Humberto Da Silva Marques told Xinhua after the catwalk that there had been a higher level of investment this year in both scenery and entertainment and that the catwalk was one of the most important events of the festival. The country's chocolate festival has been held steady amid a frugal recession, attracting around 30,000 visitors every year. "This catwalk proves the country has great designers and patissiers," da Silva said. "The chocolate festival is a great reason to visit the country and this area in particular." Obidos is a medieval village in Western Portugal, around 100 km north of the country's capital Lisbon, where visitors can enjoy farmlands and vineyards, and take a walk down narrow cobblestone streets in the walled settlement. A sweet aroma takes over the medieval town inside the castle walls during the festival every year, turning it into the country's chocolate kingdom. Visitors are tempted to try all kinds of chocolate delights, from thick hot chocolate, to "Ginja" liqueur served in miniature chocolate cups, to biscuits covered in dark chocolate, called "beijinhos", and even a chocolate and cheese recipe. This year visitors, both kids and adults, had the chance to attend chocolate workshops where they learnt how to make chocolate cakes and bonbons from scratch.