Paris Day 8: Monday May 25, 2009

Montmarte, Mel and More

Cody and I woke up feeling so much better, having managed to sleep off the sleeping sickness. The day was hot and humid. We stuck to the shadowed sides of the street as we made our may to Epiciere Fine, an organic Italian Deli, for a delicious lunch with Flo and Jacky. We shared a lovely bottle of cold, white wine and enjoyed a delicious mushroom and pea lasagne.

Our friends walked us up to the metro stop by Pere Lachaise and we headed over to a store in Montmarte called Tombées du Camion (literally things fallen off a truck) that we had read about in the Paris Made by Hand book (thanks Carolee). Heaven! This store is filled with old French dead stock, and old type, ancient labels and all sorts of other deliciousness. I was lost in all the wonder and treasures (and managing to build up a nice little pile of goods). The proprietress and I had a nice chat (again, the French comes when I need it) and she told me about another wonderful, magical place at the Flea Market that I should visit while we are here. I was so engrossed I didn't even notice that the actress who plays Mel in Flight of the Concords and Daily Show correspondent (Kristen Schall) had come in behind me. It wasn't until I was outside, goods in tow, that Cody slyly pointed her out to me. How random is that?

The day was just getting hotter so we headed down into the Cemetery in Montmarte, which we had never seen before. It was shaded and lovely, filled with loud ravens and thousands of little green bugs. We found Truffaut and said hello (Cody braving the roped off area to do so), searched for Ampere (never found him) and rested in the shade. The heat was unreal and oppressive so we headed to a cafe for a cool drink and rest before going back to the apartment.

Walking back from the Metro we stopped at 111 Blvd. Beaumarchais and ogled the high priced, fait au main goods staged so beautifully in this elegant store. Some budgies sang in the background and the used books in the front were a draw, but we decided to head home and wait out the afternoon heat with only a tiny purchase to add to our bag of treasures.

The evening brought very little relief, but cold showers certainly helped. We walked into the Marais for dinner, and it was like we were in an actual marais, swimming through the thick, hot night air. We decided to try La Victoire de Supreme Coeur, a slightly culty, albiet delicious vegetarian restaurant More cold wine and cold salads and a walk back home with a stop at a gelateria for a cold cone.

We made it home just in time. We saw the lightening before we heard any thunder, but within 20 minutes, I actually saw the weather break with a snap, a bolt and hard, cool rain. Sleeping came easy.