As I talk to friends and family about my recent adventure in Europe, I'm frequently asked, "What was your favorite thing?"
There are a few things that rise to the top immediately. Paris, of course, goes without saying for me, but my favorite thing in general had to be the shops and markets. Not just the shops themselves, but also the shopkeepers, and not just for the sake of shopping. Shopkeeping is close to my heart.
The shops and markets and the products that were being sold, were exquisite. All the shops we visited were very small by American standards. Most were just large enough to be stocked floor to ceiling on two sides with a sales counter generally in the rear. The floor space was just enough to allow a line of customers coming in and a line going out. Each was perfectly arranged and the details were obviously important.
The products within the shops typically focused on a speciality. Maybe it was bread or pastries or pottery or meat or wine, but there was certainly a focus. Within each and every shop and market, we were greeted by the shopkeeper and tended to personally and with rapt attention. The shopkeepers were intimately attached to their shops and products. Each purchase was carefully packaged and presented with tissue, seals and beautiful packaging. There was no hurry in the shopkeeper's attention to our service.
I found a lovely paper shop in Florence, Italy and spent an hour there just enjoying the beautiful items. I chose some handmade papers as a gift and purchased some gold wax and a hand-tooled wax stamp with a ornate initial "R". The shopkeeper packaged each item with care and finished the bags with seals. She was the perfect example of good customer service. I felt pampered and appreciated. I walked out with a bundle of beautiful treasures and a smile of appreciation for the pleasant experience.
We spent one morning in a particularly wonderful clothing shop in Beaune, France. We saw it on a walk the night before and decided to peek inside the next day. We were not disappointed. Our shopkeeper was a delight and we found such beautiful things there. It was apparent that each and every item had been lovingly chosen by our shopkeeper.
The displays and windows throughout our trip were nothing short of amazing. Here are a few....
A seafood market in Paris...
A outside candy market in Nice...
The city of Venice had so many beautiful shops....
A Patisserie in Venice...
A jewelry shop in Venice...
A market in Venice...
Baubles in Venice...
Ready for Easter in Venice...
The fish market in Venice...
The fruit market in Venice...
A butcher's shop in Venice...
Another stunning jewelry store...
Deliciously appealing fresh olives...
A flower shop....
Wedding and party favors...
A beautiful display...isn't she stunning?
An antique store in Venice....
I guess once a shopkeeper, always a shopkeeper....
