Day 358: The Market

Day 358: The Market, originally uploaded by susanvg.

Atwater Market the day before Christmas was a bustling place. I, too, was getting my last minute delicacies for the holiday table. I had already been to Les Délices du Marché earlier in the week. There you can find any kind of oil, vinegar, spice, rice, you name it. It is owned by a couple of men who always have a smile and a suggestion of what to buy. My first stop this time was to the Fromagerie du Marché Atwater. My spouse eats a lot of goat cheese and I stocked up on some new varieties from creamy, flavourful to a hard, cheddar. Here too, service is friendly and informative. I don't know how they can know so much about so many cheeses.

I next went to the organic butcher for a turkey. The upstairs of the market is lined with butcher shops, some with meat, others with many varieties of sausages. I had already filled my refrigerator with vegetables, but made a stop at one of the flower stalls - two bright red cyclamen to liven up the table.

Finally a stop at the liquor store for just the right wine to go with the turkey.

I don't know why shopping at the market doesn't feel like work, but shopping at a supermarket does. Perhaps it is the fact that you actually deal with people who help with decisions, who remember you from previous visits and who greet you with a smile. Perhaps it is the variety of colours and possibilities - no rows of similar boxes with prepackaged foods. Or maybe it is the constant seasonal changes. Whatever, I smile as I go through the market, enjoying the atmosphere.

Day 136: Mountain Equipment Co-op

Day 136: Mountain Equipment Co-op, originally uploaded by susanvg.

A rainy day is perfect for shopping for a raincoat, so we went to Mountain Equipment Co-op. It feels good to shop there as the values of this venture are admirable. This is one of the greenest buildings - with much of it built of recycled materials. Rain water is collected for toilets; heating and cooling are done mainly through a geo-thermal system. Learn more here. And this attitude continues through ethical sourcing of goods.
The store is full of clothing and equipment for all kinds of outdoor activities - today's purchases included hiking boots, the raincoat, socks and long pants. But we forgot to stock up on fairtrade chocolate. Guess I'll have to go back.