I found my thrill..

my loot..

Friday morning started like every other day this past week. At 9:30am I stepped out of our apartment building and began the now familiar walk towards the river Seine. The sun was shining, but I had my umbrella with me just in case. I had gotten caught in two downpours the day before and I was determined that it would not happen to me again.


post rain

As I walked along the Quai de Bourbon, a riverside road on the north side of Ile St. Louis, I saw a man standing down by the water. I could faintly hear music coming from his direction. As I passed him from up on the street I could hear him playing a flute, and the happy Irish tune that drifted up to the road brought a smile to my face. Although I couldn't help but wonder if he was also nursing a few pints of Guinness down there. Either way I enjoyed the music as I wandered by.



I continued walking, all the while admiring the river and the weather, and I noticed that the leaves are already starting to fall in Paris. As I crossed over the bridge from Ile St. Louis towards Notre Dame on Ile de la Cite, I heard more music. An aged and bearded man was sitting on the bridge playing an accordion. These are the moments that a small town Canadian girl like me savours in a city such as Paris. I felt as though the moment could only have been made better if I had been wearing a beret. Or riding by on an old bicycle with a bundle of baguettes sticking out of a wicker basket on the front. If you come to Paris and see a goofy girl riding around like that, it's probably going to be me.



The crowds had already started to converge on Notre Dame, snapping photos and admiring the architecture. I zigzagged my way around them as best I could. After barely 2 weeks, I'm already starting to dodge them like an old pro. But my camera is a dead giveaway, there's no hiding the fact that I'm kind of new here.

When I finally arrived at my destination I was awestruck by the view. I stood frozen in one spot, my heart skipped a beat. My eyes could barely focus as they strained to absorb what they were seeing.

My friends, I was not at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Nor was I lingering at its base. I was not standing at the Arc de Triomphe looking down the length of the Champs Elysees. Nor was I pondering Mona Lisa's smile. The place I had found myself made my heart beat faster than any tourist attraction. I was at La Grande Epicerie de Paris. And I was sure that I would never want to leave.

Imagine, if you will, the grocery store of your dreams. And then force yourself to imagine something much, much better than that. Perhaps this is quite normal for Paris. Perhaps my feelings of awe and wonder would seem a tad exaggerated to some. But again, I'm just a small town Canadian girl who is easily excited.

With trembling hands I reached for a basket, my mind reeling at the discoveries that lay ahead of me. I strolled at a most leisurely pace, turning my head left and right, afraid to miss a single thing. I felt like a kid on my first day of school; overwhelmed and nervous, but ready for the adventure. I admired the preserves, jams and jellies, the oils and vinegars, pastas in shapes and colours that I had never seen before. Sea salts and spices, chocolates and teas, cheese, meat, freshly baked bread, foie gras.. it was all there. And the prepared foods left me feeling that I would never have to cook again. From couscous to quiches to terrines, I wanted to try it all. These foods were fine enough to serve to the queen, should she happen to drop in on you one day.

I came home with a comparatively boring bundle of stuff. But there is a reason for that. Is it because I'm insane? Well, possibly. But, the truth is that when I am overwhelmed with choices I have no greater fear than making the wrong one. I would hate to come home with the black and white bow tie pasta and then wish I had bought the pasta shaped like party hats with those pretty stripes in pale pink and yellow. So I tend to settle on something more mundane and familiar. Something that leaves no room for second thoughts. A girl can only handle so much excitement at once. But now that I've had a chance to absorb it all, I will enter prepared on my next trip. I know that I will again be dazzled, but this time I'll be ready for it. Whether it's party hats or bow ties, there will be some funky stuff in my basket next time. And I'll be sure to tell you all about it.

La Grande Epicerie de Paris
38, rue de Sevres
75007, Paris

The loot that I brought home with me (pictured at the top) consisted of Petit Ciabatta rolls, a Baguette Nordique, sundried tomato pesto, balsamic vinegar, Tomme d'Auvergnes and Saint Nectaire cheeses, curly (but safe and somewhat familiar) pasta, and I couldn't resist a wee pot of prepared Bearnaise sauce. Because you just never know when the queen might drop in.

P.S. My new computer, which originally promised a 2 to 3 day delivery time, finally arrived yesterday after almost 3 weeks. Oh happy day!