Saturday, February 2, 2019

Saturday, a pottering day

I am going to start sightseeing on Monday so my main intentions for today and tomorrow are to finish adding all the places I have read about or which been recommended  to me  to my map and to get rid of my cold and cough.

Most places around here are slow to open on weekdays and even slower on weekends.  I started thinking and looking up websites at 7,15. Plan A opened at 9, plan B said 7.30. Good, 1 block away. When I got there it was nowhere near opening. Plan C,  the next closest of a row of typicl French cafes was open and the cofeee was not bad. They had not used UHT milk. So that was good. While I was sitting watching the very few passerbys ( it was still dark) I saw what looked like a market a block away setting up.

The market was great. Small - a flower shop with lots of wattle, 2 seafood stalls ( nothng refrigerated - OK today maybe -  2 degrees, but other times??) , 2 deli type places, 2 cheese , 1 meat , 2 fruit and veg, 1 oyster, and probably a few others, but yet to open.  I am not over keen on large markets in unfamiliar places - too much choice. I  chose one cheese shop and bought some cheese made of half sheep milk and half goat milk. I bought some clemetines ( i donot think I have ever tried one) and some raspberries ,both from Spain and then I bought quite a few things from the deli. All very pleassant interactions with the shopkeepers patiently helping with my French ( and the cheese lady practising her english on me). I might not have kown about it if Plan A had worked.

I spent the rest of the morning pottering at home and watching things happening,  Lunch was to go to another of the row of typical looking French bistro/brasserie/cafe. The terms , which used to be distinct , now seem to be used interchangeably. About 3 blocks from here I went down a side street to look at a small little place and went in. I had a delicious 3 course meal. There was a set price for 3 courses which was the sum of the entree and main which I would have chosen, so I got a creme caramel for free. I will return.

Some knitting and people watching this afternoon. My next challenge will be to decide which of the delicacies i bought earlier to eat tonight.




No comments: