LE BON MARCHE DEPARTMENT STORE

Yesterday, we took a taxi to the classic left bank Le Bon Marche department store. It was the very first one in Paris. Located in the 7th, at 24 rue de Sevres, it is in the neighborhood of Saint Germain des Pres, It was built by Gustav Eiffel and dates to 1852. It houses some 40 top designers and the clothing was, well just gorgeous but a bit expensive. The tailoring and detail on the women's suits, dresses and coats is amazing. The quality is definitely apparent throughout the garment. It is known for being a renowned wedding boutique and has a floor dedicated to lingerie. I bought several things that would not be available anywhere but here. The sales girl placed the items in a beautiful pink box with black ribbon wrapped up in pink tissue paper and then placed in a wonderful shopping bag. I don't think I have mentioned up until now that no matter what you buy, it is wrapped up in such a beautiful way. My husband snapped this picture yesterday and I was surprised this morning when I downloaded the pictures.

Across the street the La Grande Epicerie de Paris is located which is the largest supermarket featuring foods from around the world.  I bought some of the most beautiful and unusual teas, fleur de sel (french sea salt), some bread from the bakery department along with the fresh butter made with the fleur de sel. This is just an amazing store and we promised we would revisit each week.

Today, our family will be flying out, if they can get out, with the impending noreaster snowstorm which is expected to leave over 20 inches of snow from Washington, D. C. to New York. This is what I heard on the news this morning and we sincerely hope they are not delayed and get out before the storm begins.  My husband & I are so excited and just can't wait until they arrive here tomorrow morning. We will keep checking the news today and keep our fingers crossed.

We are going to rue Cler today. It is an lovely cobble stoned street with an open market. We strolled down it several days ago and promised that we would revisit today Friday to pick up some gourmand food. I also have to pick up the olive bread that I ordered on Tuesday at a wonderful bakery on San Dominique. The bread is baked and filled with an oozing cheese, branches of rosemary and thyme, and is an absolutely delicious loaf of bread. I had such a hard time trying to at first buy one, was then directed to come back vendredi (Friday). I just could not get the time I was being told. The lovely woman decided to use the cash register to show me 1130. Okay, so my two loaves of olive bread would be waiting for me on Friday at 11:30 AM. I was then asked to pay in advance and write my name down. No receipt was given, and being from New York, yeah right, well that would let's just not happen in New York.

We have had a plumber all morning attempting to rectify the heating situation. This is his second visit. When we first arrived, it was freezing in the whole front of the apartment and we just could not get any heat. Luckily the radiators were working in our bathroom and bedroom so it was warm in there. The banging and noise of the pipes was dreadful led us to believe that there might be air in the pipes and so today I can feel some difference already.

We are now off to the rue Cler and wish you all a very nice weekend.