June 2010

So we’ve been here for two weeks and finally slowing down enough to share a little slice of Paris with you. Should I start with today and work backwards, or start at the beginning? Maybe I’ll just share a few things and start tomorrow. Yes, let’s put off for tomorrow….

First of all, love love Les Puces at St. Ouen! The largest flea market in the world! It’s part amazing antiques; part tourist crap; part cheap clothing, shoes, electronics, etc; but part fabulous antiques, vintage everything, art, and unusual finds – and that’s the part that will make you go back. We stayed from noon until close, which is approximately 6 p.m. and didn’t get through half of it, not even close. There are snack bars and cafes sprinkled throughout to keep you nourished so you will have the energy to continue, and give your pieds a little respite too. Working up for a return next weekend, as we got a request to make a purchase for a friend. Everything I wanted was upward of $7800 – those 18th century antiques are a killer. Still haven’t gotten the okay from home….

Having had such a lovely time there, we thought we’d hop over to Marches Montreuil. Not the best decision ever. All the guidebooks list this market as a major flea market to go to while in Paris. Don’t. It may have once been somewhere to make a find. It has now degenerated to imported junk and didn’t look much like it belonged in Paris any longer. Again, don’t waste your time here. The only thing we bought was lightbulbs – exciting! Oh, I guess the crepe chocolat avec chantilly made the trip worthwhile at least.

Since we’re in the shopping mode, we’ll switch over to retail for a quick moment. Au Printemps – If you are a shopper you will think you have died and gone to heaven. Amazing department store. It is divided in three connected stores, each very large in its own right. Six, count them, SIX floors for women only. An entire huge floor of shoes, purses, jewelry, designer clothing, well, you get the picture. New favorite designer, Manoush. If you really browsed through every floor, it would take a day for this store alone.

Maybe I should finish shopping on this entry. Wait a minute, silly me, there is no end.