We've been having a torrid time with the laptop so I haven't been able to update the blog. The computer just goes off at the most awkward times, so annoying. But I've been writing in Word so I will post these as soon as I can.

CHEZ PRUNE

We were going to lunch at Chez Adel where they have chansonniers singing French songs in the style of Edith Piaf but they were closed and it looked really sleazy anyway so that was probably a good thing. Instead we stumbled across Chez Prune nearby which turned out to be a scrumptious second choice. The food was delicious and the service was efficient and friendly.

After lunch we took the metro to the Marché aux Puces de Montreuil, a flea market in the 20e. It wasn’t quite what I anticipated. It’s funny how you get a picture in your head about something and then it’s not what you thought. People were sitting on the ground with the stuff they were selling in front of them on mats. The market snaked its way along the side of the road peripherique. The Lonely Planet describes this as a market of 500 stalls but there was nothing like that where we were. Maybe we were in the wrong place. It wouldn’t be the first time.

So we got back on the metro and went to another market at Porte de Clignancourt which is said to be the biggest flea market in Europe. This market was more what I expected but I don’t think we saw all of it because each market is located in a different section. Anyway by this time the kids needed the toilet, they were thirsty, tired and wanted to go home. We didn’t stay long after that.