We’re at Libert. Camille has bought three cheeses and set them up on a counter in the middle of the busy little shop. She says it’s very kind of them, letting us do this. She has a knife. And she cuts four pieces of each. The raw milk cheese is oozy, gooey, deliciously stinky. We’re quiet, licking our fingers. Felicia and Chuck are from Napa Valley. Outside it’s cold and the Marche Aligre is ramping up, you’re jostled if you stand still.
We have to leave in a moment. Camille offers us hand sanitizer. There are no napkins. We shake our heads ‘no thanks’ still licking our pungent fingers. Camille rubs her hands together and agrees ‘it’s the smell of Life, yes?’
Today was a great day–it was the day of awesome French women.
I did the Paris Market Walking Tour with Context Travel. It was so much fun. There were only three of us on the tour led by Camille Labro. What a cool person. We walked through Marche Aligre munching on little apples, raw artichokes, lucques olives, and CHEEEEESE. Oh the cheese. Seriously the cheese. Oh my god the cheese.
We had aged comte (which was by far my favorite), a goat, and Camille’s favorite, Reblochon.
We saw lots of other things:
Afterwards Camille took us for oysters and wine. At 10:30 in the morning. I love Paris.
The rest of the day I spent repeatedly getting lost.
Including this evening when I was visiting Ophelie, a friend of Sebastien’s, in the 20th arrondisement. It’s so frustrating how easily I get lost. Because I’m completely convinced that I’m going in the right direction only to find that I’ve walked 30 minutes in the wrong direction.
Tonight I managed to find my way to Ophelie’s and was only an hour late. Totally worth it–a lovely person…she gave me lots of good wine, made me a salad, and brewed an espresso when I had to sober up to get home. Love Ophelie!
The view out of her front window:
There was a bad thing though…I drank a coca cola at her house after not having coke for more than 8 months now. Because I was addicted. It felt sordid. I felt bad. I drank a giant bottle of water when I got home.
This was my walking song for today. It KILLS me. I literally dance while I’m walking when this comes on. And most of the time I’m not that kind of person:
Paté and Heartbreak 