Confession: in the 3+ years I’ve lived in Paris, I’ve never gone to the organic open-air market on boulevard Raspail. That is, until last Sunday. A few of my friends go regularly, almost every Sunday, to stock up for the week on organic produce, fresh cheeses, yogurts and whole grain breads. Since my friend Emily is back in town for a couple of week and staying with Mr. Cheeseland and me, she insisted we go as it was one of her favorite weekend activities while she lived in Paris.
It’s easy to get comfortable in an arondissement and become lazy. Twice a week, there is the Richard Lenoir open-air market which is only 2 minutes from my apartment, and the Bastille market on Sundays which is only 15 minutes by foot. But neither are organic. From 8:30am to 2pm people flock from all over Paris to the Raspail organic market to do their fresh food shopping and sample the chai tea, fresh goat cheese, onion and cheese galettes (which were essentially latkes) and English muffins. I felt like I was cleansing my insides by osmosis. I love being around other equally health-conscious individuals who get their kicks from fresh milk in glass jugs.
What I didn’t expect, however, was an impromptu photo shoot. After placing my zucchini, peppers and carrots into a reusable sac from the Fresh Market, an American grocery store that was developed to bring back the feeling of open, European style markets, I was approached by two, young Japanese women. They explained that they were journalists for a Japanese magazine and wanted to take my photo for their June issue. I asked if the topic was Paris, or Paris markets but she said she wasn’t yet sure of the angle her story would take. It might be about Paris or it might just be about healthy living and style. They seemed intrigued by more than just my shopping bag, asking me where I got my scarf and my plain white long-sleeved shirt. I don’t believe I looked particularly Parisian but if I fooled the Japanese, I must be doing something right.
I posed for a couple of shots, holding my Fresh Market bag in direct view of the camera and smiling awkwardly as passersby whispered and chuckled to one another. Tourist onlookers got a kick out of the scene and I’ve convinced myself that they believed it was a staged, professional shoot. I will continue believing that.
After exchanging a curious glance and a smirk with my friend, we continued on our way through the market. The morning exemplified the beauty of Paris – no matter what you do, something strange/interesting/bizarre/funny is likely to happen.
If you find yourself in Paris, check out the Raspail organic market. You might just get yourself into a magazine.
**Boulevard Raspail (in the middle of the street) between the rue de Cherche Midi and the Rue de Rennes. Métro: Rennes
Photos courtesy of Meg Zimbeck
