The window shopping at Marché Biron is fabulous, but the prices are sometimes astonishing. Holly and I once met two American antique dealers who come every six month or so to fill a shipping box full for the trip across the Atlantic, headed to New England. We asked them if they spoke French and they laughed and said that they did not need to as they spoke, "Cash."
They were nice enough but it sent a shiver down my spine in their lack of interest in the magnificent language of this country from which they buy and then sell. What a loss for them. Tant pis.
Marché Biron
Marché aux Puces St Ouen
Métro Porte de Clignancourt
27 comments:
We were lucky to shop there (and the exchange rate was good). When we lived in Paris my French was so much better. It is hard to keep it up. We are going for a visit to Paris in two weeks!!!
Genie, tu es une exception. Vraiment! Tu aimes la France, tu aimes les Français, tu essaies de t'intégrer et tu fais beaucoup d'efforts pour parler français. C'est tellement rare de la part des Anglo-saxons! Tous, pensent que l'anglais est la langue qui doit être parlée de tous. Je le regrette beaucoup. L'anglais est une langue directe, idéale pour le business, mais comment peut-on parler d'amour et faire de jolies descriptions si ce n'est en français?
Tu as compris tout cela, Genie, et c'est pourquoi nous sommes grands amis.
Bonne journée!
Such an amazing-looking shop. I think it would be wonderful to wander through there, even if one didn't have the money to buy anything. To see, to experience the ageless beauty. What a joy!
And tant pis pour nous if those marvels are going away from France..!
About language: There are some people like you, who love so much our country(be blessed for that!) that they want to learn the language to understand the things better; There are a lot, much more, like those men, who don't want and don't need to learn. AND there are those who would like to learn french, but it's such a difficult language !
On the other hand, a lot of french people are unable to speak a foreign language! so...
Oh my, that shop sure looks like paradise;)
But it isn´t it so, that amongst the (native) english-speaking population, there is a certain laziness towards learning another language - as a rather sad heritage from the "glory days" of the British Empire...english has been known throughout the different continents, so perhaps there has been little need to learn. And I suppose that myth still lives on, that where ever you go in the world, you can get by on english. And to a certain extent, it is true!
I do admire your way of breathing in french while in France.
Happy weekend!
Beautiful shop and I love the photo looking through glass - it makes everything sparkle!
Have a lovely week-end Genie!
I remember them! I think the other "sad" part about not being able to speak (other than cash) is that they aren't getting the history of the beautiful antiques they are buying. I would want to know the story behind the lovely pink needlepointed chair...was that done by some lady in waiting or mastercraftman? Sold bacause of renovating & modernizing a chateau or ???
But I think that chandelier on the left would be perfect in my dining room. Would you pick that up for me on this next trip? Thanks! :-)
Tant pis, bien sur! French is a beautiful language and well worth the effort to learn--at least enough to be polite when visiting France. I agree with Holly, wouldn't it be wonderful to learn the history of the pieces? J'aime le chandelier aussi! Trying to figure out how to cart it back in out carry-on ;-)
I love antique-shops and specially the antique market in the country,
the so called "vide-grenier" on a Sunday-morning.
Tant pis, en effet! Quel dommage!
«Louis'» experiences in France taught him that, even if you butcher it, the French appreciate your effort to speak their language.
Quel dommage!
And don't ask them where they ate, for heaven's sake!
McKentuckyBurgerBell, doubtless
The Puces!
I miss wandering about in that chaos. I admit to having rarely actually looked at the prices of things--not that I could afford much from the Marché aux Puces. A book here, a linen underskirt there, some vintage buttons. I still have those buttons!
We plan to go to Paris for a month later in the year. I'll be hitting this place up religiously.
I have never gone to the markets in Paris before, and regret it so much.
Everything about France is so beautiful ... especially the language.
They should try and speak fluently just like I do! :)
As lovely as these pieces are, it's a little over the top for my taste or maybe pocketbook. I do love the linens you find. Can't wait to hear what you buy this time. And don't forget Holly's chandalier!!!!
V
Bravo Madame!
That picture took me back years when I would tag along while my father would pour over this or that antique and haggle with madame on the value of a book.
Thanks for the flashback!
R
The antiques are lovely and I love your header. What a pity those antique dealers couldn't be bothered to try and communicate and mix business with pleasure.
Melbourne Daily Photo
I don't know why you were shocked at the antique dealers, they're so typically American.
Dear Genie, i love you for this post!
and i agree with your friend Holly above, what about the history of the objects they buy?
enfin, comme tu le dis si bien, tant pis pour eux!
Bon week end chère amie!
Those pieces look like they came from some lovely old chateau. Most English-speaking people don't care about other languages. It's a sad fact.
Antiques & Language. There is beauty in both. I hope we who only speak English can continue to travel overseas and loose ourselves in anothers words.
Quite a shop. Genie, but the objects are a little too plain for my taste!!!
Wow that is a shoppers delight. I love the red chair.
They are the sort of traveller I dread encountering. They are not even travellers, but more 'day-trippers'. The greatest of insults that I bestow.
I sure wish I could speak French! Maybe I'll do sth about it! But first Italian :) Beautiful store!!
wow, look at all those special pieces!..i hope to go back to paris soon, Nice blog! Following you now, I hope you can follow back if you like my page :-) xoxo, from NY!
TRAVEL DESIGNERY
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That is a magical window. And your post made me chuckle, indeed no champagne sharing required with Miss Magestic. :) xox Alexandra
its fantastic!! i love this store!!! :D :D absolutely fantastic place.
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