Potpourri Sunday

This is a potpourri post--a little of this and a little of that from the last few days.
There is a new exhibit at the Hôtel de Ville of photographs by Doisneau taken between 1933 and the 1970s at Les Halles, the big Paris market in the center of town that was dismantled and moved to the suburbs in 1971.  Les Halles were nicknamed the "Ventre de Paris" or Belly of Paris by Emile Zola.  In the 1850s there were huge glass and iron buildings in which vegetables, fruit, all kinds of meat, cheese, etc. were sold.  Kelly and I went on Thursday to the exhibit and it was fascinating.  You can see there is usually a line to get in to this free exhibit and it was very crowded.  Doisneau is very popular in Paris and photographed the city for six decades.

Friday night Kelly gave a power point presentation in French at the Institute to French young adults about the American Presidential election and the Republican Primary.  He did a great job speaking French--he had to learn a whole new French vocabulary relating to elections.  They thought the decentralized American system and the Electoral College were very different than the centralized French system.  They asked many good questions.
Saturday I went to the marché at Avenue Saxe behind the Ecole Militaire to buy some fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and eggs.  The market did not disappoint.  This time it was much warmer than when I was there two weeks ago and the place was bustling.  I felt a bit obvious taking pictures, so I wasn't able to get a picture of the tongues in many sizes, depending on the type of animal, for sale.  The pigs ears and feet were there again, too.  There were also several fish and seafood sellers. 

Mussels

All of the produce in France must be marked with its origin.  It is interesting to see where everything comes from-bananas from Martinique, strawberries from Spain, and clementines from Morocco.
And I finally managed to buy those fresh eggs!

Fresh Brown Eggs

The Eiffel Tower was pretty in the misty morning as I left the marché.

Later in the morning I took the students up to the marché aux puces at Porte de Clignancourt.  It is not in the best neighborhood and it is a bit difficult to find from the metro.  On our walk from the metro, I found this scooter and couldn't resist taking a picture.  Hollande is the Socialist candidate running against the conservative incumbent, Sarkozy, for President of France.  I liked how the message mixed the French election with Obama's campaign slogan.

It is difficult to take pictures at the marché aux puces at Porte de Clignancourt.  The sellers are very protective of their privacy and goods.  The marché consists of several markets made up of labyrinthine alleyways with little booths that look like small garages to sell antiques and collectibles.  Things are more expensive here than they are at the flea market we went to a few weeks ago at Porte de Vanves.  Kate snapped a picture of the entrance into the Marché Vernaison where we spent most of our time, and I managed a picture of one of the stalls selling furniture and crystal chandeliers. 

Entrance to the Marché Vernaison

Kate found two costume jewelry rings and some old French 45 records and declared after less than an hour that she was done and ready to go home.

Kate's Daisy Ring

Sunday I decided to use the sweetened condensed milk I bought in Switzerland to make cheesecake for dessert.  Remember those blue tubes?

After using the tubes, I wondered why sweetened condensed milk comes in cans in the US.  Tubes are so much easier!  They are easy to open, it isn't messy and sticky getting the milk out and if you don't use the whole tube, just twist the cap back on and put it in the fridge. 

Madeleine and Mary Claire

Brooke and Ashlie

We had a few students come over after church and we all enjoyed the cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries from the marché.  It made for another perfect Paris Sunday.