A SATURDAY AFTERNOON IN PARIS...

Marketing always happens on Saturday mornings.  Sometimes on Wednesdays if we have run out of something but always on Saturdays.  The street markets are on different days in different districts, and ours is on a Wednesday-Saturday schedule.  So, first the market then Franprix, our "grocery store".  Many times David goes to Franprix without me since he can move faster without me!!!

Today,  after the marketing,  we took the bus over to the 6th Arr. to find a new bookstore,  The Red Wheelbarrow, the bookshop that is going to work with us this year at the Bloom Where You Are Planted event David and I are directing at church.  It's been a real challenge finding a bookstore to work with as many are no longer doing outside events so we've been searching for weeks.  Because we have four author-speakers,  we wanted a bookstore to sell the books of these authors.  Through a round-about way, we were given the contact information for Penelope Fletcher, owner of the newly-opening Red Wheelbarrow.  We contacted her and were so excited when she was thrilled to join us.  Her shop is darling (it's not stocked yet as she doesn't open till mid September) and kind of reminded me of Shop Around the Corner from "You've Got Mail".  The street is tree-lined and across from the Luxembourg Gardens.  It's a beautiful spot!  We had a nice visit with Penelope and are excited to visit her shop once she's opened.

The Red Wheelbarrow

The day was beautiful, blue skies and sunshine, nice with a little breeze so we decided to walk to a little place,  Odette's,  for a treat before lunch.  On the way, as in often the case, we passed a church, Saint Severin.  Though we've decided at this point one church is much like another, we still enjoy walking in and absorbing the quiet, calm ageless beauty the sanctuary provides.

 

Saint Severin

Then it was on to Odette's.  We followed Google maps to find it and had a nice stroll in this really great neighborhood.  There were lots of little cafes full of people, narrow cobblestone streets and little shops and boutiques.  As we walked and talked about the Red Wheelbarrow, all of a sudden...Odette's!!

Odette's-cute with the best cream puffs!!

As you can see, it's just a little patisserie on the corner with some seating.  Because it's so small, Odette's focuses on choux a la creme (cream puffs) in a variety of flavors.  We bought a box of six of assorted flavors and, of course, one for each of us to eat walking back to the bus.  Oh my gosh!!!  The best little cream puff and, though small, the size was perfect.

 

We'll try not to eat these at one time!!  Aren't they pretty??

This is the Paris I love!  More than the Champs-Elysees, more than the Arc de Triomphe, more than all the museums (okay, maybe not more the Eiffel Tower!!!!), I love these small neighborhoods of winding, cobblestone streets with cute little shops, cafes, patisseries and parks.  This is Paris to me!