Store Closed For Flu

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I found out something new today. Paris, the city, closes on Sundays. Yep, the whole city gets the flu. Luck was on my side however, as last night I thought it would be fun to visit the third arrondissement, also called Le Marais. This is is the allotted gay/Jewish district of Paris (like Hillcrest, for you San Diego-ites...San Diego-ans). It makes for an interesting mix of Delis and high-fashion.
Le Marais also has one street, Rue de Rosiers, which gets shut off to traffic every sunday, and is reserved for pedestrians and bicyclists. Accordingly, all the shops along this street open so everyone can lechent les vitrines. Actually, many people were buying things, though cardigans were averaging around 180 euro. No wonder none of the sales people paid attention to me. Maybe wearing slippers was a bad idea.
Le Marais also has about 15 museums, and I don't know if they're always free, but I went to both the Musee Carnavalet, on France's history, and the Musee Picasso, and didn't pay a centime. It was excellent.
Le Marais had a very nice vibe to it; it's full of manicured parks and small museums, but nothing so grand as to draw an unruly crowd of tourists. Everything was very trendy and chic, while maintaining an air of history.
On a recommendation, I sought out a middle-eastern food stand, L'As au Fallafel. This was one of the more confusing food experiences yet. A hawker was calling out "fallafel" and "schwarma", with a French accent, and a yarmulke on his head. I passed the stand once when I first arrived, but since I'd already had a crepe (beurre et sucre) from the street market in front of my apartment that morning, I was pleasantly full. After walking the streets for a bit, I sought it out again, intrigued by the long line this hawker managed to attract. I kind of inserted myself in the crowd, and this greasy man in black came by with a pad, asking people if they wanted "emporter", and I think that meant "to-go", but I wasn't sure enough. After standing for a bit, I got impatient, and hungry, and told the guy I did want "emporter". He scribbled something on a pad of plain paper, and traded it with me for 5 euro. The scribble looked nothing like "5 euro" or "falafel sandwich". Then I went up to the pick-up window, and waited for them to call my number. Then I saw him taking tickets from other people, so I went up and held out my ticket, but he completely ignored me. "Rude French people!" I thought. Oh wait, all those other people are in some sort of line shape. Now who's the rude one, I had just been waiting around trying to cut in line.
Doggedly, I went to the back of the line with my scribble of paper. I noticed that everyone else in line had a printed paper that looked different than mine. I worried for a bit that I'd just been scammed out of five euro, but the greasy man with my money was sticking around, you usually don't rob someone then hang about. Plus, the first yarmulke'd man saw my paper and seemed to think I was okay.
I ended up getting my falafel, tres piquante, and it was delicious. Everyone on the street had one, notable by the green napkin wrapped around it. Most Frenchies though, were eating the contents out of the pita with a little fork. Kind of defeats the purpose of a sandwhich, huh? I read that it's bad manners here to eat anything at all with your fingers, even fruit!
After I got back to my own neighbourhood, I had a hankering for something sweet, so I went in search of a patisserie, not expecting much though. It is, after all, Sunday. I figured if I walked towards the grocery store, at least I could get something there if nothing else was open. Not only was nothing else open, the grocery store was closed too!!! The French Monoprix is like a Vons or Safeway, I couldn't imagine a time when those stores would close, even on holidays!
So, no sweets, I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow. Luckily I bought a quiche at the market this morning for dinner!

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Comments

[ashley]

did we mention i'm jealous?
l'as du falafel! tres delicieux!