Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Tuesday 2 December - The Passages

This Langres cheese was fighting to get out all the way home.  I took it out of its wrapping and it immediately started to advance across the plate and laid down a protective layer of gas. We quickly developed a containment plan which consisted of killing off the advance guard by eating it on a fresh baguette.  The sweet, creamy interior was wonderful
 The first order of business today was to restock - white (Sancerre), red (Fitou), vegetables and cheese. I bought a particularly ripe Langre at the fromager on the rue de LĂ©vis - see above.  We walked down to the Gare St. Lazare along the rue de Rome with its many musical instruments. i was particularly taken with one shop that had displays of second hand trumpets, trombones and saxophones.
The piano in the Gare Saint Lazare was being given a very good workout
This intriguing sculpture in the Saint Lazare forecourt has finally been revealed again after a couple of years behind a hoarding
The art deco dome of Les Galleries Lafayette has a beautiful decoration this year.
There are galleries off both sides of the Boulevard Montmartre (Panoramas, Joufroy and Verdeau), some in good condition and some having seen better days. Pamoramas houses restaurants, philatelists, old post cards, coins and antiques such as German helmets with a spike on top. Joufroy has high end shops for jewelry and ornaments. Verdeau is middle of the road with a hotel and some tourist items.
Rue du Faubourg Montmartre
We returned along the Rue du Faubourg Montmartre and back across the Europe traffic circle.  We had to call in at Diva et Chocolats to buy some ammunition to fight the cheese.