Tag Archives: groceries

Last Minute Christmas Groceries in France

Having recovered our equilibrium after the fire two days ago, we ventured out today to do some last minute grocery shopping in St. Lo. As we approached the InterMarche, I told Mark that the parking lot was completely full. But we managed to get a spot quite quickly and in we went.
 

Busy shoppers at supermarket two days before Christmas in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 

Last minute gift shopping two days before Christmas in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
The large store was bustling with purposeful activity as people purchased last minute gifts and groceries. But everyone lined up cheerfully and there was no sense of anxiety or aggravation as everyone waited politely to be served in turn. The wine aisles, meat and seafood counters, and the cheese counters were the busiest areas followed closely behind by the fresh fruit and vegetables. Quietly and competently, the French staff waited on customers, filled orders, found specific gift items, and checked out the purchases.
 

Last minute food shopping 2 days before Christmas in St. Lo, Normandy, France


 
As we left the store and drove away into the icy-cold rain and darkness, we both remarked about how calm everyone had been inside the store. It was a marked and charming contrast to the frenzied atmosphere we had felt in Great Britain, Australia, and the USA when we both dreaded it if we ever had to do any last minute shopping. We used to cringe about the fact that people routinely shopped during the week before any holiday as if they were stocking up for an invasion and the stores might never be open again. It was simply mad!

Here’s hoping that all of my readers have a happy and healthy holiday season. Blessings to all of you!

COPYRIGHT
©Deborah Harmes and ©A Wanderful Life
Please respect the words and images on this page.
All rights reserved.

Familiar ‘French’ Foods

Part of our strategy for frugal or budget travel is cooking for ourselves whenever we have a kitchen in a gite or apartment or house. So we had a bit of a giggle two days ago as we did the big weekly shopping excursion.

We noticed some very familiar name brands from our time living in the USA. The packaging might be familiar, but the language describing the Uncle Ben’s Rice and Old El Paso foods were certainly not in the original English!
 

Uncle Ben's Rice in a French supermarket


 

Old El Paso ingredients for making Mexican dinners seen in a French supermarket


 

COPYRIGHT
©Deborah Harmes and ©A Wanderful Life
Please respect the words and images on this page.
All rights reserved.