Monday, December 15, 2008

Eat, Walk, Drink, Walk, Drink Walk, Eat.

Anybody who has every traveled with the W's or myself knows that few things are as important to us as seeing, tasting and experiencing. I believe we travel well together because we agree that an army or travelers, travel on their stomachs. I would be hard pressed to find a better way to experience the culture of place then through what they eat and drink. We love to explore farmers markets and pedestrian shopping streets, tempting us into buying way more then we can possibly use while were are there. On this trip we had the added bonus of the Metro not being on strike so we could get to far flung places and from there wander about. On our second day, we ended up at the Place d'Italie and low and behold we found an amazing farmers market going on. The quantity and quality of all the foods put a summer farmers market back in California to shame. The market stretched along the sidewalk for blocks with meats, cheese, seafood, bread, pastries and incredible fruits and vegetables. After exploring, drooling and gawking there, we proceeded through a small neighborhood, stopping in for coffee in one place and bread at another. We later found lunch at a Belgian cafe that M had found on line, so it was beer and mussels to commemorate our trip last year. We had dinner back at the apartment, after shopping on our shopping street nearby. For the 4 days we would start out with a goal such as wander around Montmarte, visit the 7th arrondisement, walk along Rue Faubourg St. Honore. and then when we were done in that area we would head in a new direction, stopping in for vin chaud when we got cold or a coffee when we needed a pick me up. We wandered with purpose one day towards Pierre Herme to pick up some amazing macaroons. One day, we ate lunch in our neighborhood at a fantastic Crepe place that M had found. After I spend time in a city aimless walking I always feel like I know it better then if I have visited it's most famous museum.

Thanks for reading.

Photo credit - Artsy food shots by CF, who now wants to go by his new rap name, Baby Chezus.
Belgian meal shot by MW.

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