I am not sure why but I like the activities on Sunday. I really like walking over to St. Aubin’s open air market. It takes me about 30 minutes to walk over but usually on Sunday morning’s the city is very quiet and peaceful. The only activity many Sundays are the street cleaners cleaning the streets. There are both small truck sweepers and works blowing the rubbish into the middle of the street so the trucks can sweep it up.
The vibe at St. Aubin’s is very fun. There are all sorts of people shopping, young families, older couples, older singles, some aging hippies and just a host of people.
The wares at the market range from standard fruits, chicken, cheese, breads, crafts, shoes, beads, some clothes, and street food. It is a true smorgasbord of items. I, usually, buy olives, fruits and vegetables there. I have not tried the different food stands as I am usually there at breakfast and so am not ready to eat paella, Asian street food and other options. I have bought cheese from one of the cheese purveyors. Also, the fruits and vegetable seller range from individual farmers with single/double items to larger vegetable stands. There is a person who sells fish caught in the Pyrenees. I have seen beekeepers with honey products. There are two bio wine producers who sell their wine. Even thought I do not buy at all the stands it is still fun to wander and see all that is for sale. I have bought some presents to bring home from there.
My next stop is always Maison Pilllon for my chocolatine (pain au chocolat). I had one of those few rude French experiences or maybe just because the person was old. I was waiting in line to buy my chocolatine when an older man came in. He saw it was very busy and the clerks were helping other people. As soon as one became free he just demanded what he wanted. He did not even acknowledge that other people were in the store. Usually, the customers queue nicely but this man was not interested in that.
Next stop in the Marché Victor Hugo where I buy my protein. My standard stops there are Marée Toulusiane (fish), Farbos & Fils (poultry), Maison de l’Angeau (lamb), Maison Garcia (charcuterie), Deux Chavanne or Fromagerie Emilie (cheese), and a boulangerie. It is fun to see all that they sell and it is much more than we find at the supermarkets or even specialty markets in Alexandria.
My final stop is usually the Poussin Rose which is a pastry shop, fairly small but they sell small pastries so make me happier than buying the huge pastries at most patisseries. I am partial to the chocolate eclairs, the raspberry tarts and the dense chocolate cakes.
As always, there are always unusual and surprising things that I venture upon when out walking. This morning it was a person playing a mountain horn in the middle of the Place du Capitole. It made a lovely sound.
The day started out beautiful but became overcast and drizzly but I really do not mind walking in the drizzle and enjoying my Sunday morning.
For dinner, I cooked what I had bought that morning for dinner and had a lovely dinner. I was bad as I had red wine that I bought Saturday with my fish but dinner was still good.
An added bonus, was a FaceTime call with Liam and Sarah. They are two of my favorite people and I am glad that we are friends and have stayed friends over the years and distance. They live in California so I do not get to see them often but it is great to be able to chat with them regularly. Also, they are about to become new parents and that is very exciting. I think they will be great parents and I cannot wait to meet baby Morris-O’Connor.
