Talking shop

We've been to two large markets, one right across the street from our place, the other about a mile down the road. Each has an in-house bakery. There is a large selection of breads that, so far, I can't really tell apart. Arab bread (looks leavened, not like pita), Greek ciabatta, bonconccini, several French something or others.

When you buy produce, unless it's in a shrunk-wrapped package, you first don a glove, weigh your stuff, print a bar code label, seal and put away.

Great selection of fish and other fruits of the sea, including species such as red mullet that we never see in the states.

The baby food section, where I spend some time, has not only strained peaches and so on but also, I'm not making this up, strained prosciutto and strained horse. I checked to make sure it wasn't Little Horsey brand or something. I mean, people eat horse here as in most countries, and babies are people. . . but I'm still not telling Mirella, or Susan for that matter.

Stores sell beer, wine and hard liquor, like in some U.S. states.

You make a deposit to get a shopping cart, which is refunded if you hook the cart back to the chain.

People reuse shopping bags. If not, you estimate how many you'll need and purchase them (4 Eurocents each) from the cashier. You bag your own groceries as well, which can be quite a juggling act.

There are many smaller specialty shops for wine, mushrooms, etc.