October 31 is Halloween at home but the festival isn’t celebrated much in France. It was also a Sunday. I knew that the Bastille maeket was open, and I wanted to go visit, since my friend Allan and I used to shop there, and it’s a lively spot. Didn’t know how it would be in the rain, though.
i also wanted to shop at the Bazar de l’Hotel de Ville, commonly known as BHV, which is a real, down-to-earth department store, reminiscent of the San Francisco Emporium of my youth . I love to pick up pretty kitchen towels there and I wanted to check out their hardware department in the basement do-it yourself center, called “ le bricolage”, to replace a handle that had fallen off the WC yesterday.
I left by following the same route to the Concorde metro, line 1. On my way, once again, I noticed that many people are masked outside and on the metro EVERYONE is masked. There are signs everywhere to remind people to mask up. The French take the rules very seriously. Restaurants and museums ask to see the health pass before you’re allowed to enter. There are hand sanitizing stations at the bus stops. It’s a busy time with the two-week school vacations and the metro can be as crowded as ever, yet I feel safe. It may also because I’m actually triple vaxxed with the extra Moderna shot. People distance themselves.
I got off the subway at the Hotel de Ville stop and saw that the Olympic rings are much in evidence in front of City Hall, in anticipation of the Olympics to be held in the summer of 2024.
Next stop was to the papeterie, the paper section with all kinds of stationery, pens, note cards, greeting cards and Even the beginning of the Christmas decor!
i headed up to the kitchen department, where I found some nice kitchen towels. I was given a big bag, which wasn’t yet full but I had an idea that it would be if I continued to find more treasures.
I also enjoy wandering the aisles, looking at unique kitchen appliances.
Back on the metro I went to visit the Bastille market. I didn’t want to load myself down too much, so I just enjoyed the scene and took pictures. I was getting tired so I stopped by a café for a cappucino.
After I had some time relaxing, I did a bit more walking and discovered the Franpris where the Monoprix used to be. I found instant decaf coffee (hard to find) and treated myself to a dark chocolate bar.
Hunger set in once again. I’d remembered that there was a Léon de Bruxelles nearby. It’s a chain that does mussles – moules à la marinière – very well. Just as I was thinking about it, I turned the corner and there it was, right next to the metro. Was this destiny, or what?
Before I was allowed to enter, I was asked for my health pass, as usual. I’ve discovered that it’s easier to show the paper copy, since the phone copy is too tiny for their machine to scan the QR code. I noticed that this was one of the few places decirated for Halloween.
I started off with a Kir Royale, champagne with crème de cassis – as I was waiting for my moules. It was refreshing and delicious, and I admit to feeling jist a little tipsy after drinking it on an empty stomach. At least I don’t have to drive . The metro will take me home.
The metro is a marvel but there are tons of steps, with lots of to-and-froing and going up and down. No wonder the French are so fit! No wonder this out of shape American is so exhausted! The bag added a few extra pounds of weight as well.
I rested at a couple of bus stops at the about-to-be-renovated Madeleine with my big bag as I contemplated the traffic and the changing colors of the skies.
I came back and checked my mileage: I went 6.1 miles. How did that happen? I thought today would be an easy day.
Tomorrow I’ll take the bus, but I’ll make sure it’s the right bus. The #42 goes around the city and the stop I’m searching for will be a scenic trip away. What’s more iconic than the Eiffel Tower?
It sounds like a plan. We’ll see what happens.