Tuesday, February 24, 2009

disorienting, isn't it?


This is one of the pieces in the Centre Georges Pompidou, but I like to think of it as a perfect representation of my brain, especially when I have nothing to do. I tend to get pretty stir-crazy. For some reason this week there are no literature classes. As I am taking solely literature classes, I have no classes this week. What to do, what to do? Maybe I should've stayed in Paris a little longer. I can only read so much Victor Hugo at a time, people. The man wrote as if he thought he could exhaust the supply of words in the world by writing them down. He's brilliant, but 400 pages per book is enough for me, thanks.
So here I am not feeling really motivated to post on the blog but thinking that perhaps I can burn 15 minutes this way.
I went the the grocery store yesterday and could not find milk. At all. I mean, they have the super-duper-ultra-sterilized kind in boxes, but in terms of real milk: nothing. France: nation of paradoxes. You can buy raw milk here, but not just plain old regular milk at the supermarket. If I could find raw milk at the supermarket that would be even better, but that would be too easy. They have 2 aisles dedicated to yogurt and creme fraiche and butter (the butter here is spectacular, by the way), but no regular milk. Cheese? Enough to feed the entire town for a month. But no milk.
As for cereal, I'm a granola-eater. I don't care for sugary, fluffy, puffed cereals that are colorful or have marshmallows. In France almost all the cereals, even the "healthy" ones, have chocolate in them. I kid you not. There are a few without chocolate, but don't think you're going to find any of the really healthy stuff. And I have yet to find a health food store, which would make me really happy. It's funny, though. You can buy local fruits and veggies at any old supermarket, which is rare in the States, and corn syrup isn't in everything here. But then, try to find healthy cereal or milk or peanut butter and you can forget it.
Which is why I'm having my boyfriend bring me a jar of pb when he comes to Europe. It is something of a necessity, after all.

3 comments:

Robin Chalkley said...

No milk? Were they expecting snow?

Really enjoying your accounts of Paris. Can't wait to go there... some day.

Fiona said...

In her book On Rue Tatin, Susan Hermann Loomis says that some groceries order milk for customers every few days. When they're out - they're out. I can't believe this would be true for a SuperU, but maybe for a little neighborhood place?

Loved the Paris pics. Honestly, that chocolat chaud sounds too thick for me. But I'll have the lemon tart, please.

meg said...

Strangely enough, I can find milk at this little, miniature grocery store (it's still a chain, though) near my house, but the supermarket doesn't stock it. I'll have to read that book, though. You're the second person to mention it.