Market Day on Ordener

One of the things that the apartment listing said about our flat was that it was close to a weekly market and the subway! We would be able to get the best fresh veggies just not far from our front door. 


This wasn't exactly what it said, smile, but it was not an exaggeration. The market is just around the corner and starts early three mornings a week and shuts down by 3 pm. 

Now, if you happen to use the metro on a day when the market is on, it can be like walking the gauntlet. The normal rush slows to a crawl and the sidewalk is reduced to a one lane walkway about the width of a foot path. The flow along this dramatically reduced walkway can at any moment come to an abrupt stop, when someone five folks deep decides they want to visit with a neighbor. 

It is absolutely hilarious the number of people--i.e. elderly women, heehee--who think nothing of stopping in the middle of a sidewalk  blocking the entire path to say hello to a friend. You have to LOVE it--and the rolling shopping bags that are more like rolling suitcases~ You need them here because most stores do not provide plastic bags!


Getting to the metro on market day means going past tables filled with everything you can possibly think of buying, not only fresh fruits, veggies, but also fish and meats, clothing, socks and shoes (for men, women, and children), house hold products--like copper scrubbers, and stove burner covers--hair color, lotions, and stuff you just wouldn't think you'd find on the same sidewalk you use to get to the metro.


 I keep saying that one day I am going to go and take pictures of all the most unusual things that are for sale--we'll see! I took these pictures on the down low--moving quickly as I could without making it obvious that I was actually taking pics.


The French market is definitely something you must visit if you come here--but I warn you, don't go shopping on an empty stomach!! You'll buy far more than your little fridge can hold and even more still than you'll want to carry up five flights of stairs!!! Oh yeah, getting LOTS of exercise here :) 
more soon, 
t.