Monday, December 1 - Almost Ready to Pack Up!

One more day to go in our latest French Adventure. We decided to pack some of our favorite excursions into the day, so we first ventured over to Le Bon Marche's La Grande Epicerie.

(The Epicerie is across the street from the main store.)

Prior to entering the store is the requisite stand selling fresh oysters (huitres). This is the season:

Same oyster season as in the USA.

La Grande Epicerie, as many know, is a combination of  all the best of Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Costco (but without the bulky piles in the aisles and perhaps with a touch more class.) Last winter when we visited, part of the store was under construction--everything is now complete. And what a wonderful store it has become. Every department has displays that are beautiful to see and, of course, a temptation to the pocket book. Here's a peek at one of them:

This picture does not do justice to this display of bottled water--some that I spotted were priced at 59 Euros (those were the uniquely-named "Bling" which was spelled out in tiny rhinestones! How else could they justify 59 Euros for a single bottle of water!?!)

After buying a few items, we popped across the street to the main store to search for their "notions" department. I had heard that they have a fabulous array of buttons, thread, and other sewing necessities. After looking through several of the floors to no avail, we stopped one of the many astute-looking. attractive young salesclerks. He informed us that they no longer have a notions department--it has been replaced by the department of Christmas decorations, exactly where we were standing.

 Unfortunately, the reindeer displays that are hanging throughout the atrium do not show up well in this photo, but they really are quite spectacular.

After leaving Bon Marche, we stopped into the Chapel of St. Catherine Laboure, a beautiful church I discovered last year, thanks to one of my neighbors. I bought a medal and then had it blessed; quite moving.

It was time for a bite to eat, so we walked down the street to Cafe Varenne, a cute restaurant where we ate last year. I chose the lentil salad with a poached egg on top and Lloyd had the petite ravioli, each with a glass of wine--quite enough for us today. Then we were off again to walk through some familiar areas to see which boutiques and stores are still thriving: down rue du Bac, over to Blvd. Saint-Germain, on to rue de Buci. These are all areas where we have either stayed or shopped over the years.

Yes, lots of memories for us. Too soon it was time to head back to the ParisPerfect office to print our boarding passes, then back to the apartment:

to start the chore of packing up for an early ride to the airport tomorrow.

And one more view of the Eiffel Tower before we wrap

it all up and stow those new memories.