DAY 19 - TUE 3/19 - Chatou Fair...again

We decided that when we went to the Foire de Chatou last week with Christine, we just didn't get enough of it, or do it justice the way we wanted to...there's soooo much to see. So off we go, passing an adorable gaggle of little kids gong on a field trip, and then into the Metro (notice that even in the Metro it tells you when the next train is coming, and they usually come every 2-3 minutes...it's so civilized). We go to the gigantic Les Halles station and change for the RER, the commuter train that goes to all the suburbs around Paris (notice the lit itinerary map in the train that also tells you where you are, along with the announcement). 

We know we are approaching Chatou-Crossey when we see the large make-shift covered market area in a large field. Walking from the train to the Foire entrance we see a 'sabot de Denver' (Denver shoe) on one of the vendor trucks along the path. We realized that the owner had put this on his truck himself to thwart off any potential robbers, because we remember we had seen it last week too when we were there. Good idea, n'est-ce-pas?

We pay 5 euros each to enter and we're in heaven...all those 700 stalls to explore...with anything and everything, in every price range from bon marche to cher (cheap to expensive). There are lots of pictures here to give you a flavor for the extent of what's there, all eye-candy even if you don't buy anything. Jill was looking for a vintage Hermes scarf, one of her passions, and here if she finds one, it will already have a history and patina, not to mention a lower price than what they are going for these days in the Hermes stores. They are usually not displayed, but kept in a hidden locked place, so you have to pick stalls that you think might have such an item and ask, and then they go into their hidden stash and bring out one or two if they have any. Jill finally hit gold. Marty was having fun hunting for odd things...he did find a magnificent Breitling watch which was at a very 'good' price, but he'll think about whether it will fit into the budget. We did see a charming painting for our dining room (we've always got our eyes open for that spot) and we're considering it.

So browse through the pictures and hopefully you'll appreciate the scene.
Here are some of the sights:
.People
.China
.Clothes, highbrow and everyday
.Statues,
.Dolls
.Airplane engine
.Clock
.Furs
.Hair pieces
.Luggage
.Linens
.Art
.Dental drill and chair
.Elegant shoppers
.Furniture
.Perfume bottles
.Designer handbags
.Copper
.Kitchen implements
.Bathroom tubs, sinks, and toilets
.Books, postcards, coins, and stamps
.Doorknob hardware
.Toys and prams
.Oriental rugs and repairs
.Musical instruments and repair
.Eye glasses
.Umbrellas

.Children learning the art and appreciation of brocante (antiques)

.Dining (in your stall, at pop-up snack bars or proper restaurants...we had oysters and brochettes)

.Chatting with vendors, some dining on pâté and champagne (they don't need special occasions to eat well and celebrate)

                                 

.Marty talking to vendors, and even helping move some furniture

              

.Metal bed Warner's
.Etc...etc...etc.

It's about 5pm and we've been here for more than 5 hours, through sun, rain, hail shower, and clouds, and we're finally ready to pull ourselves away and go home. We wend our way back through the charming Ville de Chatou and catch the RER back to Paris.

Tonight we have a reservation at a very highly recommended restaurant right near our apartment, L'Epi Dupin. The chef is fantastic, and the flavors devine and complex. Here are some of the dishes:

Entree: Sea snails in a celery root remoulade.

Plat: Bonita steak in an Asian sauce with creamed leak cannelles.

Dessert: Dates wrapped in phyllo dough twisted like a party snapper with fresh baby orange sections in a cumin seed honey sauce with creamed lemon sorbet.

For us though, it's not the classic French cuisine that we like best. But it's a very good restaurant, and very popular with locals, a good sign.

Another great day in dream land.