Reminds me of English friends who came to France, exclaiming how much they loved the lifestyle here, so much better than in England - 'but why does everything close just when we want to go out?????' i.e., lunch time. Well, most people, at least in the country, are enjoying their lunch (read lifestyle)

In fact we had Canadian family here last week who were amazed that the butcher and baker were open on Sunday morning. They're used to supermarkets being open all the time but not small shops. Because, of course, Sunday lunch is the most important meal of the week, and people have to stock up on fresh food.

Cigale, there are dozens of bars like that one all over the city, with an oyster cart/kiosk/stand attached to the side. I don't know if the oyster stands are seasonal or permanent, but I know of at least three just a few meters from my apartment, and spent two pleasant hours yesterday evening with a couple of friends in one, and doing just that. The Gillardeau oysters we had were great.

The past is like a foreign country they do things differently there.

And we like it just fine the way they do things here

If she thinks French Sundays are bad she should try living in the Netherlands, away from the tourist routes.

Thanks for the post cigalechanta. The French think they understand everything about joie de vivre. So change happens slowly.

I could say the blogger has too much time on her hands but that would be rich coming from one who spends far too much time online.

Her issues are fairly silly. However, I admit that after three years in rural France we have not fully adjusted to the noon to 14:00 closings. We're getting better, trips to our market town now include a long lunch until the shops open again. We have to be careful the wine doesn't loosen the purse strings.

Great "problem" to have, when you think about it!

I agree with Cath. What's wrong with a few tongue-in-cheek musings from an expat? After all, all of us who spend a lot of time in cultures different from our own notice these differences. Not having enough milk because of store closings is dumb, for sure, but it's not so far-fetched a concept - I've spent many a day in France waiting for things to open up after the mid-day closings, or driving somewhere only to find out that there was a fermeture exceptionelle.

I will gladly trade places with her and take all those problems in exchange for the privilege of living in Paris. I think Navigo should be available on other days of the week to be topped.

@hetismij2, same with Switzerland. everything is closed on Sundays. Stores are generally open until 8 pm on weekdays. Planning is essential.

> Switzerland ... Stores are *generally* open until 8 pm on weekdays.

Kurosawa, that's TOO general. I live in Geneva but know no cities where shops are open generally till 20h00 so I'm curious, where do you live? Here in Geneva most closes at 18h30 - 18h45 but some bigger stores at 19h00. ( exception are smaller food stores often run by Indian or of similar sorts that stay open till much later than that). Thursday is "nocturn" like in Zurich I think, many shops remain open until 21h00.

<i>The French think they understand everything about joie de vivre.</i>

Other cultures might think so, but certainly not the French. In every international opinion poll, the French come out as one of the most depressed and pessimistic societies in the world.

kappa1, you are right, stores close at 6:30 - 7:00 pm. you are absolutely right about thursdays too.

Some of you are a bit harsh, it's just a bit of light-hearted humour. That said, the comment about Remembrance Day did rub me up the wrong way. Not only do plenty of countries have days off to remember war(s) and veterans - I think the UK may be more the exception than the rule - but it's pretty obvious why France places special emphasis on the World Wars, whereas she makes it sound like some weird entitlement thing, like they think they're more worthy of remembering the war than other countries.

Michael, Yes, I knew that, sorry if it appeared I didn't understand. I was just agreeing with you.

Hello all,

I've only just seen all this and have no idea if you'll receive a notification that I have finally got round to replying.

First, let me say thank you for taking the time to read my post (which was, as some suspected just for fun whilst on my year abroad).

My intention was never and is never to offend anyone and nearly all that is said is said tongue in cheek. I love Paris and had the best year there, all the "problems" I had were trivial indeed but still apparent and distinct from certain problems (plenty of them) I have at home here in England or anywhere else in the world. I didn't particularly wish to blog about my enjoyable and frequent morning trips to the market down by the Bastille on Sunday mornings like the thousands of others who do. We all know Paris is great, for me there was no challenge in affirming this and it wouldn't have been all too funny.

Furthermore, may I again reiterate the fact that I DO like France, I'm studying French at university and I am passionate about its culture, to mock it does in no way mean I dislike it, in fact quite the opposite. I understand that not everyone has the same approach to life as I, a sarcastic and self deprecating individual, and my caustic manner is often hard to grasp via the internet.

Thanks again and sorry to anyone who was even slightly annoyed by me, I don't mean any harm.

First of all, may I enquire as to why, as a first world, developed country, you feel the need to stop everything on a Sunday. I mean everything>

like kerouac says this shows the writer is simply uninformed about what she writes - lots of things are open on Sunday in France - not hypermarches in most areas as stores of over a certain square-footage cannot open I guess but what was writ is just ignorant of reality and says reams about her/his experiences there.

Wherever you are in Paris there will be Djerba shop nearby where one certainly can buy milk and other convenience store items. Not necessarily so in the country.

I am well aware a lot of shops are open in Paris on a Sunday. It was a JOKE.

thornley, thanks for posting. Don't let the grumpy critics
get you down. Your photos on your blog are wonderful.
Bon Chance!