Monday, August 02, 2010

Jour de la lessive

In Paris, even doing laundry is a little adventure.


When I was searching for an apartment, months and months ago, I had a few items on my wish list: good location, two beds, free WiFi, and a washing machine.

Three out of four ain't bad, right?

Today was laundry day so we bundled up our dirties and trekked a few blocks to the laundromat, or as they call it here, the Laverie Libre Service.


We read the instructions - easy.


Paid for our soap, filled the washers, and then inserted our money for the wash cycle.


Then the fun part - waiting. I actually don't mind the laundromat. I used to kind of enjoy going when I was in university because it allowed me to chill for a while. I like to watch the clothes go round and round in the washer and dryer.


Each item gets its five seconds of fame as it is featured in the window.


After about an hour or so, we were ready to fold, pack and lug our clean clothes back up all those stairs (I counted 107 today) to the apartment.

Then we left again, because today was also grocery day. Well, every day is grocery day with a fridge the size of a computer monitor, but since the big store was closed yesterday, we were in even more need of alimentation. So, we headed to our favourite place, the Monoprix.

I always read about the markets and was told that real Parisians buy their fruit and vegetables there. On Saturday, we happened upon one of these street markets and bought some beans, tomatoes and cherries. The beans and cherries were fine, but the tomatoes were rotten. Vendors do not want you touching their food so they pick out the produce themselves. Big mistake. We will not do that again.

The Monoprix has beautiful tomatoes - tomatoes that we can pick up, test for firmness, check for soft spots.


I had to show you the sugar. Too cute. Sugar Daddy.


In the afternoon I went to the Luxembourg Gardens with my book, a bottle of water, and a pear. I had a lovely hour reading under the trees. Then the sky went dark, the wind picked up, and there seemed to be a mass exodus of people out of the park.

Why?

This is why...


Total deluge. When I noticed the wind was blowing sand all over the place, I packed up and headed towards the gates. I was having a nice chat with an older gentlemen (half in French, half in English) on the way. By the time we had reached the sidewalk, the skies had opened up and the rain was pelting down. Within about 5 seconds I was drenched! My shoes were soaked, my sweater was dripping, my hair was sopping and there was water running all down me.

Mon parapluie? In my suitcase back at the apartment, of course.

I took refuge in a Mcdonald's restaurant (kind of ironic, n'est-ce pas?).

I made it home, wet but safe and the rain cleared up.

After supper, Sandi and I went on our evening walk. My father used to call this kind of stroll a "post-prandial perambulation". We wandered about our little area, but Sandi skipped her crêpe tonight because she'd bought a croissant and a tarte aux framboises earlier in the day. Her usual crêpe-chef wasn't working tonight anyway.


We stopped to visit our new friend Marie Noelle, who makes the most beautiful jewelry (which we keep buying). She also has the best stories.


And then we went across the Quai to Notre-Dame to search for the centre of Paris. And we found it!


Notre-Dame is so beautiful at night.



Jusqu'à demain, mes amis...



11 comments:

Pat said...

The whole time I was reading about the oncoming downpour, I was worried about your book...THAT didn't get drenched, did it? Please tell me it didn't!!! :) You are very easy to please there.....in Paris but content to spend an hour watching clothes go round and round in the washer and dryer!! LOL

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

I'm enjoying your trip with you!!!
Continued FUN!!
Warmly,
deb :)

Dogwood said...

I am so enjoying my traveling with you! He-he. You are a great writer and I feel like I am there with you! Thanks.

When My Guy and I were traveling in Munich years ago, we got caught in a huge down-pour. All we could do was laugh and run.

Hugs to you...Cory

Annie said...

I am so enjoying your adventures in Paris. I look forward each day to read what you and Sandi have been doing, and where you went. Love and hugs :)

pogonip said...

I've been enjoying a vicarious visit to Paris with your daily posts. Love them, love testing my French with your titles, dreaming of the day I get to go! You're capturing the flavor of the city beautifully :)

Barb said...

Everyone needs a down day to do the things that most don't like to but you made it sound like an adventure.

Stacy said...

Those tomatoes look delicious. Once again it was fun to read about your day in Paris. I received your postcard yesterday-- thank you!!! Yes, you are forgiven for not mailing your ATC ... we will give you an extension on the due date because of your special circumstances :o) But I bet the group would like to know what you have selected for the September theme.

Gene Black said...

I found it so fun to read the instructions for machine usage in French. I was amazed at what i could make out. I had one year of high school French and I am teaching myself Spanish. I had a great time when I went to Mexico reading the street signs.

Thimbleanna said...

Ha! I don't really know any French (I took it in 7th grade for 6 months before we moved) and I could actually get most of the washing machine instructions! Of course, it helped that I knew the context -- if it had been in the middle of the street, I would have missed half of it LOL.

Sounds like you had a fun adventure in the rain. I would have been laughing! I'm enjoying your trip -- so much excitement!

Pokey said...

You have me dreaming of a grand travel tour! Love the photos, I'm sharing your blog trip!

Sew Create It - Jane said...

You sounds like you are having the trip of a lifetime!

107 steps!! Blimey, you'll be fit when you get home!!