Saturday at the markets

Hello, it's been an eventful week, especially for Debbie.  It started Monday when she attended a knitting club at American Church in Paris (ACP for short).  She walks - it's perhaps a mile to the church.  Afterwards, we invited one of my colleagues to our apartment and for dinner at 16e Avenue, a nearby restaurant.  Debbie had a lamb shank that melted in her mouth - tres bien!  Her next adventure was to yoga on the Left Bank.  The location would have been very convenient from our old apartment on rue Chapon.  As it is, she had to take the metro - I suggested changing to take the RER C directly to Saint Michel.  Well, I guess not all trains stop at Saint Michel.  Long story, short, I guess it took directions from 3 different French people to get her there!  She decided to walk home!  And finally, on Friday, she participated at ACP with meal preparation for homeless.  This used to occur at the American Cathedral in Paris (the "high" church on George V).  But they are remodelling, so ACP is doing it.  Debbie said she recognized some of the same people from when she did this in 2009 - some of the same helpers, and some of the same homeless people!

We both went to ACP on Thursday night - they have a weekly dinner/ discussion.  I attended some when I was here before and enjoyed them.  You get to meet people and sometimes hear interesting speakers.  In this case, we met the Pastor Scott, a retired couple from Awatukee (near Phoenix), and heard an artist (from Dallas) speak.  PS - they always have good food (this time roasted chicken with broccoli and gravy... and baguettes of course).  We were going to attend a yoga class at ACP on Friday, but I was a bit worn out, and we didn't go.  Instead, we went to a nearby Italian restaurant Fuxia (recommended by the couple we met Thursday night).  It was fine - afterwards I realized it is a chain, and we had eaten there a few times in our previous visit, but in the 3rd.  We liked it then also!

Today, we decided to go to Bon Marche department store.  Previously we always went by it on Sunday when it was closed.  Lorenzo and Caroline (2 of my co-workers) had been there during the week, and it put me in the mood to go.  On our way, we went through the marche President Wilson - a highly regarded market in our area, maybe a quarter mile away.  It was nice - we arrived late enough that it wasn't too busy.  Lots of fish, fruit, vegetables, butchers and breads.  Some clothes and miscellaneous items.  In the future, we need to plan to go and then return home with our finds - not very good planning!

After checking the market out, we crossed the river, passed the sewer tour ("Paris Sewer Museum" - something we've never done, but probably should), walked over to Place des Invalides.  Saw a Segway tour and Fat Tire Bike tour (a couple) - those seem ok around Invalides, but it would be pretty crowded in many places.  I guess it is a way to see without walking.  We went around behind Invalides and then over to Bon Marche. We spent an hour or two walking through it looking at the people and checking out the prices - believe me, no one I know is going to spend 150€ on a shirt (and 800 on a sport coat - no matter how nice it is).  Debbie saw one dress she liked - over 1000€!  The store has all the big name designers under one roof (it is Paris, isn't it).  And there were lots of people there buying (at least shopping).  We even bought some cloth napkins ourselves (5€ each)!  That was our big purchase.  All the sales people wear black - stylish.  Men's shoes was a bit overwhelming for me.  There is also a large upscale grocery store (also very crowded and expensive).  We managed to escape with no damage beyond our napkins.


There were 2 restaurants we considered trying on our way back.  The first was closed, but the second Le Vauban was open and we were able to get a table outside directly behind Napoleon's Tomb (the dome behind Invalides).  We had salads and a glass of wine.  Two ladies sat next to us - we observed their meals were grilled ribeye steaks.  I think we will be returning after Debbie saw that!  We asked the waiter and he said it was their normal beefsteak with fries - most places don't serve ribeyes for that plate.  Also, it would be nice to return for dinner as they have a 42€ service that includes 3 courses and wine (not to mention the nice setting).  After asking the waiter, the two ladies proceeded to talk to us in English (so we could have just asked them). 

After lunch, as we left Invalides, we passed various groups at play.  Most intersting were games of polo played by teams of 3 guys on bikes.  They had mallets made from what looked like ski poles with platic cylinders stuck on the ends.  They could stop and turn their bikes on a dime, and balance holding still (almost).  It was fun to watch - impressive!  We crossed the Seine to the Grand Palais and cut behind it to take rue Francois 1er back towards our apartment.  It was much nicer than the crowds on Champs Elysees, and also quite a few fancy stores.  To me it would be much nicer shopping on streets like this or Victor Hugo as opposed to at Bon Marche.  I guess Bon Marche is a bit like going to the mall, as opposed to small stores.  We were trying to cut between Trocadero and Champs Elysees - there aren't any streets that go directly, but there are a number of smaller ones you make your way through.  We got home around 4pm - checked my pedometer (22000 steps - that's a long walk).  Took a little break, and then went to the Casino (grocery store) for dinner fixings for the weekend.  Au reviour!