homeHere in France, shops close at 7:00 pm, so people get home around 8 or so. On a Friday night, that doesn’t leave you with a whole lot of time get your groceries or run your errands, especially since the grocery stores all close at 7:30pm. Can you imagine?
When I first moved here, it was a BIG adjustment getting used to not being able to run errands any time of the day. Open-all-night supermarkets or convenience stores simply do not exist here. Plus, everything and I mean everything, is closed on Sundays. Sundays are family days and that is sacred. Pretty nice too, if you ask me.
Friday night is a night to go out to eat, have people over or simply relax.
Saturday is a fun day! Typically, you take care of your groceries in the morning: you get all of your fruits, vegetables and cheese at the farmers markets that are scattered through out the city, you go to the butchers and get your meat for the weekend, you get your bread and any cakes you might want at the Boulangerie or Patisserie. (No one makes their own cakes here like we do in the States. Why would you when you have these incredible pastries at your disposal?!)
You do your grocery shopping in the morning, then you go home and make a nice big lunch for the whole family.
In the afternoon, it’s a fashion parade in the streets. Everyone goes out dressed in the latest fashion to either shop or do a little leche vitrine (window licking). On a beautiful day like it was today, the sidewalk cafes are full of people talking, laughing, smoking, sipping coffee. The sidewalks are chock a block with people strolling arm in arm. Everyone comes out to bask in the sun and see or be seen. If you like people watching, Saturday afternoon is the best!
Voila! An agreeable day was had by all.
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Sunday Lunch at the mother-in-law’s in the French countryside.
Love,
Charley
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