Christmas Markets
As planned, I went into Carcassonne on Monday with good friend Noëlle. It felt seasonal as all get out, because it was COLD!! Neither of us was dressed for it, because we foolishly assumed that Carca would be warmer than Chalabre. Nope.
Monday was probably not the best day to go, as the Christmas Market hadn't opened yet (although it is now open) and they were still setting up chalets and getting the ice skating rink ready. I think I'll need to go back with JM, but maybe we'll take the train. Parking in the city is really at a premium, both because of the Christmas festivities and the construction on the new parking structure at the Place Gambetta that appears as if it will continue forever. That is not being helped by the fact that they've un-earthed ruins of one kind or another. Not a big surprise in this area.
Meantime, we walked around the pedestrian shopping area. Believe it or not, JM and I have never done that since we've lived here. The reason is simple: it's closed to dogs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and since Maggie is always with us, it's a no-go zone.
Unfortunately, in spite of Christmas only being two weeks away, the majority of shops were closed (Monday not a good shopping day in France), so we didn't really get to look in as many places as we wanted.
We did manage to look in a bunch of places in the big shopping districts outside of the city, although the perfect Christmas present for Noëlle's son escaped us. I cannot, under pain of death, mention what this is just in case of prying eyes. Strangely enough, we went to two Depot Ventes which both claimed to have sold one of the exact items barely a week ago. We would have thought they were making it up, if one of them hadn't told us that they'd sold theirs to our friend Christian here in Chalabre! The world is indeed a small, weird place.
I did not buy anything other than the supplies I need for our potluck on Saturday. I'm starting to have concerns about that, however, as two couples have cancelled so far! Both have good excuses, but JM is concerned that the potluck concept may be too freaky for people; causing them to worry about not bringing something "good enough." I do hope that is not the case, as the whole principle of the thing is for it to be relaxed for everyone involved.
Oh well, me and my strange American ways....
Ciao for now.
Randy
Monday was probably not the best day to go, as the Christmas Market hadn't opened yet (although it is now open) and they were still setting up chalets and getting the ice skating rink ready. I think I'll need to go back with JM, but maybe we'll take the train. Parking in the city is really at a premium, both because of the Christmas festivities and the construction on the new parking structure at the Place Gambetta that appears as if it will continue forever. That is not being helped by the fact that they've un-earthed ruins of one kind or another. Not a big surprise in this area.
Meantime, we walked around the pedestrian shopping area. Believe it or not, JM and I have never done that since we've lived here. The reason is simple: it's closed to dogs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and since Maggie is always with us, it's a no-go zone.
Unfortunately, in spite of Christmas only being two weeks away, the majority of shops were closed (Monday not a good shopping day in France), so we didn't really get to look in as many places as we wanted.
We did manage to look in a bunch of places in the big shopping districts outside of the city, although the perfect Christmas present for Noëlle's son escaped us. I cannot, under pain of death, mention what this is just in case of prying eyes. Strangely enough, we went to two Depot Ventes which both claimed to have sold one of the exact items barely a week ago. We would have thought they were making it up, if one of them hadn't told us that they'd sold theirs to our friend Christian here in Chalabre! The world is indeed a small, weird place.
I did not buy anything other than the supplies I need for our potluck on Saturday. I'm starting to have concerns about that, however, as two couples have cancelled so far! Both have good excuses, but JM is concerned that the potluck concept may be too freaky for people; causing them to worry about not bringing something "good enough." I do hope that is not the case, as the whole principle of the thing is for it to be relaxed for everyone involved.
Oh well, me and my strange American ways....
Ciao for now.
Randy
