Mike and Marian arrived in Hampstead on Friday evening, just after Anthony got home from work. We packed a few things (we'd been advised to travel light, to save room in the car) and headed off to Dover. Despite Central London traffic and very wet, windy driving conditions across Kent, we arrived at Dover in time for the 9:40pm ferry. We had supper in the restaurant on the boat and arrived in Calais in just over an hour. Our hotel was very near the port, the rooms were spacious and comfortable, and I think we were all grateful for the opportunity to crash.
Next morning, we had a lovely breakfast of muesli, coffee, orange juice, and fresh fruit in Mike and Marian's room before heading out on our shopping adventures. Our first stop was the factory town of Arques, where they make crystal and glassware for most of Europe. Then we drove to Auchan, my first French hypermarket. Marian had spoken of hypermarkets on a number of occasions, but I didn't really know what to expect. There was a large cafeteria in front, where we had lunch. The store itself was a lot like a Super Walmart -- a large warehouse where they sold electronics, clothing, kitchen stuff, house stuff, books, films, children's toys, and food. The food section, though, was about the size and quality of the gourmet section at Wegman's. The produce, especially, was gorgeous -- perfect bright red tomatoes, huge artichokes, fresh figs, and beautiful Spanish clementines with the leaves still attached. (Marian bought some of the clementines for a snack in the car --- they were the most flavoursome I've ever had). And everything was significantly cheaper than in London! Anthony and I bought coffee, mustard, and olives, in addition to replenishing our exhausted wine supply.
Later in the afternoon, we drove to Cite Europe, a large shopping mall where we spent the rest of the day. There were some international brands represented (I bought a few shirts at H&M, and was delighted to find a pair of corduroy trousers at Espirit that fit perfectly!), but many of the shops were strange to me. At one end of the mall was another hypermarket, smaller than Auchan, but similar. Anthony and I bought some high-quality cooking chocolate (great for souffle), chocolate biscuits, sea salt, French butter, some of the beautiful tomatoes, and more wine.
When we finished shopping around 8pm, we were all exhausted and glad to return to the hotel, where Marian spread out a feast of things purchased at the hypermarkets. There was fresh bread, pate de foie gras, sliced ham, four kinds of cheese, salad, olives, pistachios, and an excellent claret selected by Anthony. We ate 'til we could eat no more, and then played hearts far into the night. After throwing us all off guard by taking the Queen of Spades in the first round, Marian emerged the champion in both games.
Next morning, we breakfasted at the hotel again and drove south toward the seaside town of Le Touquet, where Mike had booked a table for lunch. On the way, we stopped at a large garden centre where Anthony and I bought our Christmas tree! As I've never known anyone else to buy their Christmas tree in October, allow me to explain. Anthony and I both have a strong preference for real trees over artificial ones. However, Christmas trees are expensive in London, we don't have a lot of space, and you have to climb three flights of stairs to get to our flat. But we do have a wonderful balcony and love all kinds of plants. So we decided to buy a live tree, letting it grow in a pot on the balcony for most of the year, and bringing it inside for a few weeks at Christmas time. Hopefully this way we can use the same tree for several years. And this French garden centre had exactly what we were looking for.
Our Christmas tree is a Dwarf Alberta Spruce, a variety that thrives in containers. They're naturally symmetrical, but can be easily trimmed into the perfect conical shape. Ours is currently about two feet high, and we plan to keep a record of its height year by year. We've named him Albert, after Queen Victoria's husband, who brought the Christmas tree to England. He's living outside right now, and we're planning to bring him in and decorate him in early December. I promise another picture later on of Albert in all his holiday finery.
Also at the garden centre we bought two miniature orchids, to join the thriving pair that Anthony bought me last Easter. (That pair is just getting ready to flower a second time, which I think means we've finally learned how to take care of them).
We were well advised to pack light. By the time with left the garden centre, after a day and a half of full-time shopping, the boot of the car was loaded to the ceiling, as was half the back seat. We then drove on to Le Touquet, where we enjoyed a pleasant lunch (I had langoustines for starter), a visit to a chocolate shop, and a short walk along the beach. We were just in time to catch our 5:40pm ferry back to England.
Thank you, Mike and Marian, for a fantastic weekend! We had such a fun time with you!
3 comments:
sounds like a really cool trip. and i like the reusable christmas tree idea. although naming it in my opinion is going a bit too far...but i suppose that's why it's your tree and not mine. :-)
sounds like an awesome trip. I am really hoping to do much more traveling in France in the not tooooo distant future. :)
Question, how is french butter any different from the stuff we buy normally?
Sirius, they name all their plants. and then they sit around and talk about them like their children. Some people have dogs instead of kids--they have plants. :)
Indeed, as Laura noted this morning, there aren't many people who worry who will water their plants whilst they are away... some 6 weeks before they go.
Post a Comment