Got up this morning determined to explore two Marches in the northern part of Paris. Started with the one nearest me (about a block from the park where lightning hit yesterday)-- there's actually a pretty decent farmers' market (about a block from the apartment) that I walk through every day on my way to the Metro -- dying for a croissanat and coffee but passed up getting anything here hoping for something different at the new marche. With my luck recently regarding marches, you can probably guess where this is going -- yep, no marche -- I'm "0" for the last four tries. Did see my first traffic accident here in Paris if that counts for anything! Amazed there aren't more.
Headed back to the Metro station where I caught a train for the second marche -- got there and it turned out to be a one stall flower market -- talk about false advertising! Figured I was already in a new neighborhood so kept on wandering for a while -- pretty boring, mostly residential which translates to "a lot of walls. an occasional doorway and a small shop of some kind every once in a while -- mostly closed because it's Sunday and things close down here for the day. Walked back to the main square (Place Victor Hugo) -- couldn't even find an open boulangerie, and got back on the Metro -- "0" for five.
Stopped at the marche near my apartment and bought some things for dinner -- then continued on to the local "mni-mart" -- that term is a bit of a misnomer -- even though these stores are small, they carry a decent selection of grocery items, staples and a variety of inexpensive wines.
My exciting find yesterday, that I forgot to mention, was that I found a new boulangerie around the block that has excellent baguettes and carries chocolate, almond croissants -- the boulangerie I'd been frequenting only had Viennese almond croissants which means they're filled with custard, no chocolate -- the chocolate ones have both custard and chocolate -- huge difference.
The weather today has been strange -- gray, overcast skies with fog and mist -- it's like looking through a thick grey gauzy veil when I look off towards Sacre Coeur in the distance -- almost can't see it. Kind of day you just want to curl up with a good book and a blanket. Decided that tomorrow I'm going to get out and play tourist again! Hopefully I'll have something interesting to write about!
