She is back in Toronto with tales to tell. I will begin immediately with two. She lead me (a polite word) to every corner of Paris, places I had not been before. She covered BOTH marches de puces, the flea markets. The first Saturday we went to the less, eh, established. Yesterday we went to the "antique" one on the opposite side of town.
I am ready to re do my own house in Piere Deux style after seeing what was on offer there! Fortunately Air France would not let me carry any of it on the plane,so we continued looking for petite meuble, boulle.
The first shop I went into I asked the owner and he said he did not have any "boulle" then stepped aside revealing a vitrine full of it. I was very adult and did not actually start jumping up and down, no matter what Susan says. It was as expensive as on ebay and American dealers because it is an antique but that Susan can bargin! I hope she bloggs soon about the wonderful pieces she got.
We also found another little store that sold Susan all the owner had even though she had to guide us to an ATM, because we a. would NEVER have found it and b. would never have found our way back. Her friends guarded her store and giggled, (actually I think they were cheering because the economy here is just as stale as at home, and eveyone is worried about the Euro) about the Americans and the path to the ATM.
Then there was this incredibly rude restaurant owner in the middle of the market who wanted us to stand at the bar for coffee when were were dead on our feet and needed to refuel, even though his whole restaurant WAS EMPTY. We have our Paris legs now and marched out to a charming pizza restaurant. I love Italian food in France, another story.
What interested us was that some of the boulle were in pieces and deserved to be restored. Our antique guru Ann Meehan (see http://www.meehanantiqueminiatures.com/annbio.htm ) has knowledge and background, besides the best antiques ever (do not buy them I want them all) ... to help us with this endeavour.
All pictures by Susan Hale
Eh, it looks as if Daphne and Colette still have glue in their hair from their hats from the Wedding... their last adventure...
On their way to Simply for galettes et Savignon Blanc even though it is winter (red wine in winter, white in summer, unless it is poissons etc.) You can take the girl out of California, but you can never take California out of the girl...eh SF mini amies?
In the Tulleries Garden
And of course on ze Metro!
Au revoir Daphne, Colette
Oh P.S. Susan I did find my black cotton beret in the bottom of the washer (european style washer) and I had to check it very carefully many times because I wanted to be sure I was not walking around Paris with black Costco panties on my head...
picture by Susan Hale
