3-21-2024 Orientation 1

 3-21-2024 Orientation Part 1

Fabienne showed up in the morning to show me the basics of my new neighborhood. We went to Place Des Halles which is a shopping center about one block away from the apartment. This mall is very large with lots of shops and lots of people—compared to the ones back home, that is. Our primary goal was to find the “supermarche” (supermarket) for food, and the “boulangerie” for bread. We wandered and looked. 

Later on in the day, I went back to actually buy food. One of the biggest differences between grocery stores in the US and stores here, is this….

It’s in the produce department. When you choose your fruit and veggies, you have to weigh it yourself and put the price sticker on the item for the clerk to ring up. I already knew this but didn’t know how to use the scale so I had to hunt down a worker-bee in the store to show me. It’s just like at the self-serve check out stand with pictures of the item (whew!). I’m so glad there are pictures.

I wandered a bit more around the mall and noticed some interesting things. First there are pastry shops and pastry kiosks and pastry counters everywhere. How can so many shops be so profitable! The population of Strasbourg is about 280,000 people—just a bit larger than Spokane. Here is one of many pastry places…. (Note: I know the dangers of this form of addiction  so I haven’t yet partaken of croissants or other petit-pain.)

There is also another interesting contraption. Take a look. What do you think it does? 

Right! It’s a phone charging station and it’s FREE to use.

After taking my groceries home, I took a little walk. I ended up at Place Kleber which is a large square where community stuff happens like concerts and markets and such. In addition to the guy singing, I tried to take a panoramic pic…..

…and then it was dusk and I went home.