My neck...my back...!

They both hurt a lil bit because of the debauchery I got myself into today.

Sadly, I admit that I went on a true, fun-loving, perfect shopping excursion in Paris today :(... :)
For those of you who know me, you know I'm a shopaholic. I can't help being myself.
I love seeing new stuff on SALE, aptly called SOLDE here in Paris.
It turns out stores only have sales twice a year here, and people don't really shop outside of the sale periods because things are SO expensive.
I got a few robes (dresses), une chemise (a shirt), un sac (a bag) (yes Lindsey, I fell prey), and...something else I'm sure. Je me souviens pas maintenant (I can't remember now), but I just tried almost everything on and I have to return some things, because I didn't feel like trying it on at the store. Alas...

Ce weekend derniere (This past weekend), I went with my Finnish friend to the markets here...similar to Eastern Market in DC, or not too unlike a flea market anywhere. I enjoyed the day other than the freezing cold weather I had to endure to get through it. I was tempted by many objects, including a cute salt and pepper shaker set (for 4 euro), a nice vase at the same stand (for 10 euro), and a pair of cute timberland boots (no comment on how much i was considering paying for them). Ils etaient trop cher! (they were toooooo expensive)

What I did get at the market--by the way, ils sont deux marches grandes (there're two big markets) et nous avons visité les deux (and we went to both)...
À la premiere marché à Montreuil, j'ai acheté: (at the 1st market at the Montreuil train station, i bought)
1-un cadeau pour mon ami Dre (attendez-Dre!)-(a gift for my friend Dre...wait and see, Dre!)
2-les stockings-(leggings)
3-une jupe grise et marron-(a [cute] gray and brown skirt)
j'ai oublié les autre choses, mais c'etait bien (i forgot what else, but it was cool)

The other market (at Clignancourt) was better, cleaner, etc.
I got some boucles d'oreilles (earrings) handmade (or so i'll say) by this nice Senegalese man...two more brass boucles (bracelets) and a pair of bottes marron! (brown boots)*

*Now I know whoever has seen my shoe collection is right now thinking: i don't BELIEVE she got another pair of shoes, but I SWEAR i have no boots like this...ils sont trés confortable (they're really comfortable)...et je les adores! (and i love them!)
Let me add here that people in Paris really aren't all that fashionable. I think New York may be holding it down a little better in that category.
I'll try to take some shots of what I see, but be assured that people DO wear jeans beaucoup de temps ici (most of the time here).
--Also, what's throwing me off (and disheartening me just a little bit) is that they don't care about their shoes as much as I think we do. Ca veut dire (that's to say) I LOVE cuir (leather), and hope most of my shoes (within reason) will be made of leather...but the prices and fashion here reflects a general attitude of ca m'enfiche! (i don't care!)...I'm hurt :(
Leather costs so MUCH..and most people really just wear (dare i say it) plastic...or at least that's all i've seen in stores

Tant pis! (too bad)

Tomorrow I start my oral french classes, after which I hope to meet up with my cute train guy from last week...more on that later :)
Bisous!