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Monday, October 12, 2026

The Day My Sister Ate a Garden


We checked into Marvie Hotel & Health in Split, expecting the usual—fluffy pillows, a decent breakfast, and maybe those complimentary chocolates that make you feel slightly fancier than you actually are.

Instead, we got… three mysterious brown balls.

Naturally, we assumed they were artisanal chocolate. I mean, what else could they be? Rustic-looking? Yes. Slightly dusty? Maybe it’s cocoa powder! Organic! Sustainable! Very on-brand for a health hotel.

Before anyone could question it, my sister—brave, impulsive, and clearly too trusting—popped one into her mouth.

And then… her face.

I wish I had recorded it.

She just froze. Didn’t even speak. Just slowly turned and looked at me like I had personally set her up.

That was when we realised something was very wrong.

So we actually read the card (which we should have done earlier), and it turns out they were seed balls.

Not food.

You’re supposed to throw them into parks or soil so plants can grow. Something called “guerrilla gardening.”

Meanwhile, my sister had just taken a full bite out of one.

Honestly, I still don’t know what she tasted — soil? regret? both?


Anyway, lesson learnt:
If a hotel gives you something that looks like chocolate… maybe read the instructions first.




63 comments:

  1. That is kind of funny. That happened to me in an Ethiopian restaurant I thought I was tasting something that was a part of the decoration or something it was not food. I did not enjoy the meal either -Christine cmlk79.blogspot.com

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  2. This is one of the funniest stories ever. I am sorry for your sister though. They didn't look like chocolate to me.

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  3. Wow! What a surprise for your sister !! Honestly, they don't look so appealing- not sure I would have popped one in my mouth so fast... Funny Story---

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  4. hehe...if it's chocolate, it should at least smelled like one.

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  5. Oh my word! They did say they wanted it to be unforgettable! Tell her we're sorry but thanks for the laugh!

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  6. Oh, dear. Did she swallow it? I hope she managed to spit it out. I hate to think of the garden that might grow inside of her. 😒

    Love,
    Janie

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  7. Uffff Veronica... I can totally imagine your sister's reaction... but it's strange that in the hotel, and in Split no less, they put this on the table in the room as a welcome... I can't believe it... I wouldn't go back to that hotel...
    Greetings, Andreja!

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  8. If something is unrecogniseable I always read the packet to see what it is.

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  9. This is why you should always read the directions ;)

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  10. Oh no, Veronica! Actually, we've to read the instructions first.

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  11. Hello Veronica,
    This is a funny story, though not very pleasant for your sister.
    It looks a bit like what we call fat balls here, we feed those to the birds.
    I wish you a lovely Tuesday.
    All the best, Irma

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  12. That’s quite a story you’re telling, Veronica. It does look like bird food—it looks just like those suet balls I give the birds here.

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  13. What a ınteresting but really seems chocolate

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  14. Oh I found that funny...lol Do you both laugh about it now?

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  15. Dear Veronica :)
    In a foreign country there is unfamilliar food ,so I don't blame your sister for trying a new kind.I'm glad she didn't swallow it though, and it was a lesson learnt..
    Enjoy a happy Tuesday.
    All the best
    Sonjia.

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  16. Oh, your poor sister, Veronica! Yes, never assume you know what something is before putting it in your mouth. Hope you can laugh about it now!

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  17. I would never have guessed they were seed balls either, especially sitting in a hotel room where you’d expect chocolates. I can only imagine your sister’s face when she realised what she had just bitten into.

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  18. What a story, “guerrilla gardening” is a new term for me, but sounds like a great idea.

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  19. That's quite the story. And your good point is a REALLY GOOD point.

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  20. Ohje liebe Veronica. So kann es gehen ! Klar man denkt doch zuerst an Schokolade und nicht an irgendwelche Saatkugeln :-))). Das passiert ihr sicher nicht noch einmal.

    Liebe Grüße
    Kerstin und Helga

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  21. Quite the story ~ a good case of 'Live and learn.' ~ Hugs ^_^

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  22. Bwahahahahahahaha. I spewed my coffee. Read the instructions first.

    I linked this post to Happy Tuesday.

    Have a fabulous day and week, Veronica. Hugs. ♥

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  23. Oh my gosh, that was sure a story. They do look like something that you would pop in your mouth, especially if they were sitting on your hotel table. Your sister is a brave one. ; )

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  24. Oh my! What a shock that must have been to your sister! I hope she was able to spit it all out and no harm was done. I am scheduled for a colonoscopy (routine) and they told me to eat "no seeds for a week" :)

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  25. Oh my gosh! What a shock that must have been!

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  26. Oh my goodness! That is a riot... and sounds like something I might do.

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  27. That is a very funny story. Your poor sister!

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  28. Es una divertida historia. Me gustaron las imagenes.

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  29. They look like fossilized poo to me. Definitely would not eat without reading to make sure of what they were.

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  30. Three “chocolates” and the card only explaining after the first bite, that’s a hotel welcome with a sense of humour. Did you plant the other two in the end? I’m curious what comes up.

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  31. Oh no! Honestly, they really do look like artisanal truffles. Talk about a sweet setup that turned into a bitter upset.

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  32. That’s a funny story—I can totally picture it. :D I really like the idea of ​​seed bombs for guerrilla gardening.

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  33. Oh, your poor sister, I don't want to laugh... that was the best post title! Reeled me right in.
    Amalia
    xo

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  34. Yikes, I think she definitely tasted both soil and regret! That was certainly a wildly entertaining way to start your day at the spa, at least for you. For your sister... please pass on my sympathies! :)

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  35. I have never heard of these. It's a good idea but a little misleading!!

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  36. Although I feel for your sister, I have to admit it made I laughed. That is certainly something to remember when visiting a foreign hotel, and receiving something you don't truly recognize. Blessings!

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  37. Bom dia minha querida amiga Veronica. A cultura brasileira é riquíssima. Infelizmente, nunca fui em nenhum estado da Região Norte. Parintins fica numa ilha, no meio do Rio Amazonas. Minha querida amiga Veronica, que decepção que sua irmã passou. Uma excelente manhã de quinta-feira, para você e todos os seus familiares na Malásia e um grande abraço do seu amigo carioca.

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  38. Me confundi, Parintins fica na margem do Rio Amazonas.

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  39. I hope you also had some more pleasant experiences in my Split. Despite all the signs warning that those "cakes" weren't meant for eating... ;)))

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  40. Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.

    Have a fabulous day and rest of the week, Veronica. ♥

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  41. Oh dear. Seed balls. Definitely a shock for your poor sister.
    Good idea for re-seeding the wild, but not so lovely as a treat.

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  42. Oh my, I would have probably done the same and I'm sorry to your sister but I did chuckle. It's one of those things! You know, those things can also be dangerous. I think you should have been given verbal warning because they do look like edible energy balls that we make. Thanks for the smiles and apologies to your sister for smiling, and thanks for the story :)

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  43. That is a perfect storybook title!! Illustrated. So sorry for your sister. I am trying really hard not to laugh, but you told the story so well.

    -Soma

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  44. oh dear! that would not be a pleasant mouthful!
    cheers
    sherry

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  45. Java Bean: "Ayyy, not a problem for us, we are not allowed to have chocolate anyway! Or so Dada says! I think he just wants to keep all the chocolate for himself, in which case popping one of those into his mouth would serve him right."

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  46. Oh my, it pays to read the directions. Cute story. What a cute idea though, throwing out the seed balls.
    I missed this post at first. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a great day and a happy week! PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  47. Fue gracioso, aunque no tanto para ella. Besos.

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  48. Oh your poor sister! I hope she found something tasty to cleanse her palate.

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  49. Funny story! ☺ But what an inspired idea.

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