Monday, September 19, 2011

European hot chocolate, macaron, and Popelini

My morning walk led me to Place des Vosges and Carette Paris.  The Chocolat 'carette' was superior quality chocolate in liquid form.  I enjoyed the steaming drink, served in a china cup, along with a  cafe (coffee) macaron.  There is no doubt that I am in Paris...

The Saturday market is open today in Martha's village.  Fruit, fish, vegetables, cheese, eggs, milk, and the plat de jour (dish of the day) are among the items for sale.  We walked through a wonderland of color and aroma.  The established street business is busy also.

Chickens roast on rotessary racks, fresh fish stare blankly at those passing by on the sidewalk, the smell of freshly baked bread drifts onto the rue.  We search for Popelini; I'm glad Martha was diligent and continued the search to find the tiny shop on a side street.

from the Popelini web site:
"Popelini is the name of the italian chef who came up with the recipe for choux pastry in 1540 at the court of Catherine de Medicis.Today, Popelini pastry shop is devoted to create a modern twist on this classic french specialty, by offering a wide range of colorful and tasty choux à la crème."

A ride on the M deposits us at Magdalenae.  The church is spectacular, dressed with rows and rows of flowers along either side of the massive front steps.  From the top of the steps, we can see the obelisk at the center of the Place de la Concorde.

After a visit to local shops, and another ride on the M, we walk through the huge shopping area of Les Halles, and then to E Dehillerin.

Arms laden with bags, we retrace the M journey and make our way home.

It is now 6:30 PM, and as I sit at the antique desk and write this post, music drifts from my neighbor's window and into mine.  Church bells ring in the distance.

Dinner will be after 8:30PM tonight.  It's Saturday night, and Martha, our tour director (vs Jerry, our tour guide) says that we must go out on Saturday night in Paris!

Neither little nor a lot! of rain stops anyone in Paris.  We walked the streets, umbrellas in hand.  Many of the restaurants are very small and full to capacity during the dinner hours; however, walking a few feet along the sidewalk usually reveals another restaurant.  On our 4th attempt, we found a vacant table out of the rain.  The dinner was excellent!  A few night photos from a bridge over the Seine and midnight was upon us.
Another wonderful day in Paris....

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