To market, to market to buy a .......

What does a morning shopping look like to you.  A drive in the car, parking undercover hopefully if it is summer or wet, trying not to forget the green bags, so I don't feel guilty about my contribution to destroying the world, plastic bag by plastic bag.  Rushing round the aisles, trying to sniff the fruit and smelling nothing, taking my number at the deli counter for the very plastic looking sandwich cuts and the dull olives and dried tomatoes.  Squeezing oranges through the plastic bag, it's cheaper to buy them prepacked, they say.  Sound familiar?  Well move to France, daily market shopping is a wonderful experience.  Most towns have a twice weekly market day and the produce comes from the farm to you.  In Cannes there is even an indentifying mark on the price signs that tells you it really is local produce.  I love that. 

The bubble of voices gets louder as the morning wears on and it isn't just about grabbing those essential items for the weeks dinners, it is chatting to the farmer or baker or cheese maker.  It is sampling the latest produce and sighing because it is just so darn good.  The colours entice and the smells seal the deal.  The excitement rises when the white asparagus comes to the show, the queues longer than most concert ticket queues.

White Asparagus is given rock star status at the beginning of the season.  And these people seem more than happy to wait in line for their bag full.

Translated Boudin a la creme means cream pudding, well I think this is like a blood sausage, I'm guessing it is creamy oh my I refuse to try this one.

Rabbit is another common meat found in the markets, I must admit I have never seen any presented like this, we rarely if ever even have them at our butchers, so this market scene was so intriguing to me.

Beautiful Beefsteak tomatoes, huge, red, juicy, smelling divine I had to have one.

Pungent smelling sausages, make my mouth water.

Here they even take their dogs to the market, this little guy looked very content in his little buggy.  Not a lot of green bags here, mostly everyone had one of these little gadgets, piled high and overflowing with the weekly purchase and of course sometimes the dogs.

What meal is complete without something sweet?  What trip to the market is satisfyingly complete without a sweet treat.  Beautiully coloured fruits, sugary  sweet and delicious tiny clementines.  Preserved oranges absolutely marvellous.  So let's go to the market, it's a totally different experience in France, well are you coming?!

Puce St. Ouen French Markets

Firstly let me say I do know I have posted 3 times in the last 2 days, but I have internet that works reasonably well, if a little slow, I have time to myself, no roster to follow and I have things to share before we head off into Eastern France tomorrow.  This will be the champagne districts of France and who knows when I will be clear headed enough to post again.  So please persevere with me Please!!!!

So one of my big dreams on this trip was to find some Brocante's happening and scour them..  Everytime we pass an antique shop I duck in do a little reconoiter and skip on out, empty handed, unfortunately.  Mostly the things I love are either really expensive or just to big and heavy to cart half way across the world.  So we heard about Puce St. Ouen (poos sahn-wahn) situated at Porte de Clignancourt, just a quick metro ride from our apartment.  With more than 2,000 vendors yes you read that correctly I am not exagerating, 2,000 vendors, spread over approx 11 acres this market is actually covered alleys and open streets joined together by the wares sold.  Everything from old nails, letters, stamps, books, furntiure and all the latest clothing and shoes oh and an old suitcase filled with dolls heads.  We had heard that after lunch it would be extremely crowded but fortunately it wasn't. 

It is very interesting to see the stalls, filled with huge chandeliers, garden ornaments in bronze and iron.  Beautiful but so heavy, impossible for us to bring home.  Chairs and furniture that transport you to another time.  Listening to the bargaining, seeing the serious buyers and the tourists alike. 

We saw people of every nationality here, many many africans, gypsies and middle eastern.  All hawking there goods.  The music blaring from the outside stores, selling the clothing and shoes.  Men with sleezy looks, holding out watches, bags, belts and cigarettes.  We hung on tight to our bags.

We both wanted to bring this little guy home, how adorable is he, sold brass though so impossible.

My ignorance is going to show here, I don't really know what this is but it is so lovely.

Oh and these gorgeous little chairs, just grandhildren size.

So as we end our time in the city of Paris, some thoughts I have.....

1.  Try and speak a little French to everyone and they will almost certainly be gracious to you and help you out with some English.

2.  Try the food, even if you are not completely sure what the menu says, be brave.

3.  On the subject of food, how will I go home and shop in our sterilised supermarkets after strolling through markets, with a straw bag in hand, selecting the freshest, brightest, fruits and vegetables, fish and bread.

4.  On food again, never eat snails in daylight,  they are ugly.!!!!!

5.  Climb the Eiffel Tower at night.

6.  Climb the Arc du Triomphe by day.

7.  Take more Euros than you think you will need for food.

8.  Champagne is not cheaper in France.

9.  Vin Rouge and Vin Blanc (red & white wine) is excellent in France.

10.  Spend some time in an arrondissement outside of the centre of Paris, it is a whole new world out here. 

11.  Watch out for the dog droppings outside of the centre of Paris.

12.  Get lost in some little alley ways and find Boulanger's and Patisserie's.

13.  Buy fresh Baguette's and Crossaint's at every opportunity.

14.  Use the Metro it's fun

15.  Take a cooking class with a real French tutor.

16.  Drink champagne at the base of the Eifell Tower in the dark.

17.  Take a tour to France with Rick Steve's meet great people and have a blast.

18.  Sit in apartment you have rented by yourselves and drink some fine wine and blog a little

When you book your tickets let me know, maybe I can join you.  Now come with me to the Vineyards and Villages of Eastern France, sounds fun hey!!!!