Parisians Aren’t Particularly Religious, but… – Ascension Day – Thursday, 5 May

So this afternoon I hit the streets to cross some items off my shopping list before heading home tomorrow.  I waited too long – should have done this yesterday!  After hitting a couple shops and finding them closed, I realized that it was Ascension Day, which is a public holiday in France.  Among other things, I didn’t get a chance to visit with my buddy Franck at E.Dehillerin.  Rats!  Find info about that shop and a my buddy (a Frenchman who lived in New Hope MN for a while!) here:  http://mariellen-musing.blogspot.com/2009/06/chefs-shangri-la-e-dehillerin-saturday.html

I needed the pause that refreshes, so I grabbed an Orangina across the street.  Special treat #1 – Orangina has issued a new glass for bars and restos, and it’s very cute.

Special treat #2 – while I was enjoying my Orangina, three soldiers in camouflage and carrying rifles walked by, casually looking at those of us sitting there in the sunshine.  I refrained from taking a photo of them!

Other than at the airport, I had seen armed soldiers only one other time this trip, on the sidewalk outside the Bon Marché department store.  I’m sure that the citizenry is vigilant, but in general, people seem to be going about their lives, not letting the terror attacks consume them.