I decided that I would go out to dinner on Sunday night instead of Saturday so I had to change up the routine a little. I needed to go to the market and get something for dinner. I am definitely in the buying fresh and for the day.

I enjoy going to the Marché Victor Hugo on Saturday. There is definitely a lively atmosphere. Besides shopping, people come out to buy some bites to eat and drink wine during the midday. In the morning, I am guessing it is more coffee but I have seen some groups with bottles of wine even earlier in the morning. I really like the groups of people just hanging out at the out door tables and eating charcuterie, drinking wine and enjoying life and the weather.

When I took an organized tour of the market on my first trip, the guide said that shopping a markets is dying out with the younger French as they become more interested in prepared foods and the more American like super markets. I can see that but the market does still draw young people so I hope that will continue.

One of the stereotypes that I find real, is the well dressed older French women pulling her shopping trolley behind her and doing the shopping. I had what I think of as a traditional experience and the market today. I was buying lamb chops for dinner and was waiting to be waited on. The lamb butcher got into a very detailed and long conversation about lamb with the women before me in line. It was a very animated conversation. I found it interesting as the rest of us in line did not get frustrated or push to be served. The butcher tried to draw me into the conversation but that failed as they were talking to fast and about things I did not know about so it was mostly lost on me. I did tell him that I did not speak French well after the second time, he tried to draw me in. I did not want him to think I was being rude.

After the shopping at the market, I wandered over to my favorite wine shop as I needed wine for dinner. I found a nice 100% Grenache that seemed good. Enzo and I had discussed at dinner on Friday night how be both liked Grenache.

My last indulgence was to stop at Maison Pillon and bought a chocolate eclair for dessert for dinner. I am not usually that indulgent but felt that all the walking I had done to get my shopping done I could reward myself with a good dessert.

In the evening, I made dinner and had lamb chops, fresh peas, rosemary potatoes and salad. I am still getting used to the oven settings but ended up with a good meal. The wine went well with dinner so overall it was a good day of shopping and eating.

I find that because of where my apartment is and where all the shops that I like are that I walk a great deal. For my shopping expedition today, I probably walked around for an hour or more. It is good to walk so I enjoy it – especially when the weather is nice.

I had seen in the news that there was going to be a demonstration against fish killing in the Place Charles De Gaulle. I think it was against commercial fishing but was not really sure. As I walked over to the market, I ran across the demonstration. It was not big and pretty uneventful. There might have been 10 people standing around with placards and pictures. It is definitely a French activity. Most people probably did not even know there was a demonstration. It was also right next to the organic vegetable market.