More and more bakeries are no longer banned from opening on Sundays, the traditional day of rest. However, I noticed that since these stores operate at regular hours on Sundays, they close on Mondays instead. Basically, Monday is the new Sunday. It made me laugh—how French!
On another note, I was lying in bed the other night and I realized how bright and noisy my former French apartment was compared to where we live in Ottawa. I grew up hearing footsteps above and below, smelling other people’s food, and hearing the hustle and bustle in the background. It was never completely dark, never completely quiet—silence would be the sign something is wrong.
It’s almost strange for me to see most people eating meals at a set time. While North Americans tend to grab a bite whenever they’re hungry and snack throughout the day, no matter what time it is, French restaurants fill up between noon and 1 p.m. and dinner starts around 8 p.m. French also sit down to eat—it’s rare to see someone eating or drinking while walking, driving, etc.
It’s funny for me to hear “kid speak” in French because I’m used to mix-ups, misnomers and creative grammar in English. For instance, Mark claims anything minty, with herbs or pepper is “spicy,” he says “look it” or mispronounces “magazine” (“maZagine”). French kids butcher conjugation and masculine/feminine.
I love the way the French use public space. It’s perfectly fine to chat, play, eat, drink, relax or work sitting on a bench, on the edge of a fountain, in a park, or on steps. People have lower expectations of personal space, especially in restaurants and bars where it’s common to share a table or sit 50 cm from your neighbours.
Canada phased out the penny and I’m so used to rounding up or down that I’m always surprised when I’m given 1 cent Euro back in change.
Never ever leave home without a reusable bag. While in Canada, you can still buy a regular plastic bag for ¢5, French supermarkets sell fancier insulated bags, cotton bags or paper bags at prices ranging from ¢10 to €4 and many smaller stores just don’t sell bags, period.
And to illustrate these French moments, here are candid pictures taken around Nantes!
I’m not sure about bakeries. I still remember that it was common in my area for them to be open on sunday and closed on mondays.
It’s relatively new in Nantes. I guess it depends on cities!
your hometown seems to be a lovely city…I will never ride a bike, sit in a bench reading a book in this part of the world! it is too crowded in where I live no friendly park or pedestrian. Every body own a private vehicle
Nantes is pretty picturesque. Honestly, I’ll recommend it to tourists.
I’ve learnt recently that in fact boulangeries weren’t allowed to close on sunday mornings unless there was another boulangerie open in the same village or neighboroud. Dates from the renaissance I think? I’ll look for the sources tomorrow. 🙂
But yeah, boulangeries have always been open at least in the morning!
Ps : I love the statue behind the violonist. Beautiful!
Tu en as certainement déjà parlé mais j’ai un doute : est ce que Mark parle français ?
Mmm… pas trop. Il commence, on y travaille 😆