Pres a chez nous

Decided to stay close to home today. Had housework to do before we head off to Venice tomorrow morning. First stop ... the Bastille market for Lebanese Zaatar pizzas ... I realised that I've had one of these each September for three years, plus an in-between Zaatar at Coburg from time to time! Mmmm ... thyme, sesame seeds and olive oil.



Wandered through the Marais to Chatelet Les Halles to pick up a Venice map (because I left our much researched, and purchased through Amazon, map at home) and metro tickets to get us to and from Charles de Gaulle airport.

For Ruby, who wanted to see a Paris chat, found a comfortable beauty in the window of a pharmacie. Note that "age killer" is a beauty aid and doesn't refer to Mme. Pussycat, or perhaps she is the new face of Veld's cosmetics!



And what do we love about the local neighbourhood?

• 3 euro bottles of wine
• 3 euro six-pack of Stella Artois beer
• hot baguettes standing on end in a cane basket in the boulangerie
• FNAC (like Borders) because they had a Venice map
• fresh salads at the boulangerie ... lettuce, chicken, olives, beans, tomato and basil pesto pasta in a take-away bowl ... with a little container of dressing
• the fish and cheese stalls at the market, even just for visual appeal
• the surprise piece of baguette that the boulangerie staff put in the bag with our purchases
• the bonjours, bonsoirs, avec ceci?, c'est tout, au revoir, bonne journee, bonne soiree that make every encounter a courteous pleasure

We will arrive back in Paris late next Tuesday with tales to tell of our trip to Venice.

A bientot.