After a nice breakfast, we headed out for a day of errands with Catherine. First stop was the huge and beautifully-decorated classic department store La Samaritaine, to get a replacement lipstick for the special holder Madeleine had which was personalized by Alexandra some years ago. Finding the Guerlain shop, we learned that this was of course discontinued, the new lipsticks would not fit the old holder, and we were not sure about getting a new holder as it would not be a personalized memento. Texting Madeleine, she affirmed that she would not want the new one. We went to another section for some beauty items for Catherine, then up to the 5th floor for a lovely view of the restored paintings and the many floors of lights below, very festive.
Next stop was BHV, the home decor and hardware store. First we looked for a new strainer for the sink in Catherine’s bathroom, but they were out of them. Catherine later found the correct one at a nearby bricollage, a hardware store, and Barney installed it when we got back. We also looked at new, battery-powered lights as the light in her original medicine cabinet no longer worked; we found some options but she was not quite ready to buy one yet. Realizing that she did not have her phone, and being understandably anxious, she left to head home. We walked to St. Eustache to hear the organ audition (an informal concert) and check out the Christmas market. Catherine called and let us know that her phone was indeed at home, a huge relief. We got to St. Eustache, near les Halles, but no Christmas market as yet. We went to the church, one of the largest in Paris, built in 1532 in the Flamboyant Gothic style. We arrived just as the concert started, and enjoyed some wonderful music in the packed church. Like other churches, there was a large Nativity scene, and we lit a candle for our departed family and friends, and purchased a special one for Larry.
After the concert, we went to rue Daguerre, where Catherine has one of her favorite places, the Cafe de Daguerre which she calls “headquarters” and where she often meets friends. We’ll go there with her another tine. We stayed near here once, and this small street is filled with gourmet shops of all types. We bought some mini-cannele and a baguette and Barney got a bottle of wine. Meanwhile, Catherine was ordering sushi and we met her downstairs of her building to pick up dinner. After listening to a French news show she likes - a real test for our French, I think I got about every 10th word - we ended a busy day.
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