Beautiful day here today-- warm, sunny, deep blue sky with white puffy clouds -- just the way it should be!
Sunday's are somewhat of a tough time in Paris -- many of the larger stores are closed, pretty much all of the smaller ones as well (although there seems to be at least one of everything open for a few hours in each neighborhood), tourist attractions are super-crowded and there are no sports on tv unless you apparently have a premium cable package. Makes for a good day to go walking, so that's what I did this morning.
Decided to try a different farmers' market -- one that's a ways away that unless I did it while I am in this area, would probably never get to see -- the Marche Jeanne d'Arc. It was a much smaller venue than the others I've been to -- probably only thirty to forty vendors, and while much of it was the same (there are only so many vegetables and fruits that you can display) -- there were differences. For one, this market had furniture for sale -- tables, desks, chairs, hutches -- and it had a number of people advertising/displaying their reupholstery services -- two identical chairs, one old, one newly reupholstered -- different.
There were also some different food products -- my big purchase of the day was some homemade spinach/mozzarella ravioli and artichoke ravioli -- figure that'll be dinner this evening! The guy selling it was originally from Italy, had lived in Florida for awhile and moved to France six years ago (see how my French is quickly improving? --ok, ok -- you're right, so he spoke English!)
Had one of the spinach beignets, that I bought yesterday, for dinner last night --not bad, but let's just say they're an acquired taste! Still have to try the flat smashed potatoes. Have, however, found a new passion -- croissant amandes -- almond crossiants -- looks like more of a turnover than a croissant -- stuffed with either soft chocolate or custard -- then covered with almond slices and powdered sugar -- I can tell right now that it's going to be a huge withdrawal when I have to come back to the States!
5pm update: Huge demonstration going on about a block from my apartment this afternoon -- after the other day, I've intentionally kept my distance -- today is May Day in France but this is most likely the political protest -- too much yelling, shouting, drum banging and bullhorns to be celebrating Spring -- but there does seem to be some music at times -- a lot of group singing (kind of weird). May check it out later if it's still ging on.
