"But that is too much food."

seafood
Originally uploaded by Kit Pollard.

On our last day, Sarah, Missy and I went to the Puce - the flea market at Saint Ouen. After several hours of clutching my purse to avoid pickpockets and a sketchy metro ride, we made it back home with lots of great buys we couldn't have found at home.

Then we ended the week just like we started it: eating. Our last night in Paris, we did our best to eat everything French we hadn't yet had. We went to a brasserie just around the corner from our hotel and ordered (with Thierry's help): oysters (served with a delicious vinegar and shallot sauce), shrimp, bulots (we think they're periwinkles, served with homemade mayonnaise), steak au poivre, escargots, and multiple desserts. Plus, of course, cafe au lait and chocolat chaud.

Our American-ness was never more obvious than it was at this dinner. Asking Thierry where we should eat, we explained that we wanted both oysters and meat. He said, "but that is too much food!" We laughed. Then we ate everything we were served.

Why anyone wonders why Americans are fatter than the French is a mystery to me.

Really, though, this was a great and fitting end to the trip. The next morning, we were bleary-eyed and a little sad to go to the airport, but at least we felt like we'd done everything we came to do (even if we missed out on a little sight-seeing we'd planned).

Our flight home wasn't great - it was delayed and we missed our connection in Atlanta. But it was well worth it - both for the going and the coming home.