與其到像廣東道般已淪陷了的巴黎老佛爺及巴黎春天，下次來巴黎血拼時可選擇去在巴黎左岸的 Le Bon Marché, 自 1852 年開業的巴黎最古老、3 大最出名的大型高級百貨公司之一。內裡各式各樣能令你瘋逛的名牌應有盡有，不單止化妝品及服裝，還有傢俱、高級禮品及家用品。最重要是由於百貨公司並不坐落於名勝遊客區，喧鬧的人流少了 (同樣會令你瘋狂⋯)，讓你可以更自在地在法國優雅的氣氛下慢慢選擇心水出血產品。
Rather than shopping at Galeries Lafayette and Printemps which have already fallen to tourists, like Canton Road in Hong Kong, next time when you come to Paris for a shopping spree, I suggest you to go to Le Bon Marché in the left bank, the oldest department store in Paris since 1852, which is one of the 3 best known luxury department stores with all the brands that can drive you crazy, not limited to cosmetics and fashions, but also furniture, upscale gifts and housewares. As it is not located in the centre of the tourist areas, you won't meet the noisy crowd (which can drive you crazy as well...) so you can enjoy your dreamy shopping spree under the French elegant atmosphere without disturbance.
不過，我最想介紹的卻是他們最有名的那超大型高級雜貨部 La Grande Épicerie de Paris。當你看到裡面各類來自世界各地的生品、熟品，當中還有很多只有在專門店找到的法國各城市出產的本土優質產品 (酒、芝士、香腸、火腿、鵝肝、水、香料、零食、糖果⋯)，我保證你一定會傻了眼似的不停在遊走。是的，法國最優質的食品都不是產自巴黎的。這些本土品牌產量不多，又不願降低品質而增加產量，故除了在出產城市周邊可找到外，他們都很少外銷到其他城市。
除食品外，他們還很貼心地備有一個烹飪書藉部，讓你可以為晚上的燭光晚餐找些新靈感。呀，別忘了到麵包部買個超新鮮麵包呀。
However, what I actually want to introduce you is its well-known huge luxury grocery store La Grande Épicerie de Paris. When you see the enormous selection of raw, cooked, and preserved food from all over the world, especially those very best high quality French products (wines, cheeses, sausages, hams, fois gras, water, spices, snacks, sweets... ) which you can only find in some specialty shops, I am sure you will definitely be surprised and overwhelmed. Yes, the best quality French products do not come from Paris but other regions. These high quality local products do not have the capacity to do the mass production, or you can say they prefer quality to quantity, so most of the time they do not export to other regions in France.
On top of all these, this huge grocery thoughtfully consists of a cookbook section where you can get some ideas on your candle light dinner at home. Oh don't miss the fresh bread from the bakery corner.
La Grande Épicerie 位於 Le Bon Marché 正大廈旁，有空中走廊相連著。
La grande Épicerie is located at a building separated from Le Bon Marché main building
and they are connected by an elevated walkway.
and they are connected by an elevated walkway.
不要誤會，這些全是樽裝水呀~
Don't misunderstand this, they are all bottled water~
Don't misunderstand this, they are all bottled water~
好大只的生牛髀
The big raw cow thighs
要買火腿，可以一邊喝著紅酒一邊由帥哥介紹，再選個對口味的買回家~
Before choosing the right ham, you can take a seat, have a glass of wine
and let the cool staff do the introduction.
and let the cool staff do the introduction.
走到蔬果部，會看到一家懷舊貨車。在舊時的法國，農夫們會將這款貨車 (真正的後面是蓋的) 載滿剛收成的新鮮蔬果然後開到村裡去售賣；可以想像到當時村內的婦女們如何滿心期待這些新鮮蔬果的到來 (還是帥氣的農夫？那就不得而知了 ^^)。據說現在也有農夫們這樣做著，不過已換成更先進的貨車了。
When entering the fruits and vegetables section, you can see an old truck being placed in the middle. In the old time, French farmers filled up this model of truck (there is a cover at the back for the original one) with their newly cropped fruits and vegetables and drove down to the villages for sales. You can imagine how excited of those village ladies when they were awaiting the fresh food coming (or the handsome farmers, who knows ^^). There are still farmers doing this nowadays but only with the more advanced trucks.
不要錯過他們付款處的收銀機。當收銀員點算好你的物品及價錢後，你便要將錢投進相關的機器內，再由機器找換紙幣或銀幣給你。我想這是確保沒有人為出錯吧。
Don't miss the cash machines at the cashier. After the staff tots up your purchases, you have to put your money in the right machine and the change comes out in notes and coins. I guess it is to prevent any human error.
由於貨品一點都不便宜，逛後可買個環保袋作留念，2.96 歐元。
As the products are not cheap at all,
you can simply buy a 2.96€ shopping bag after shopping.
you can simply buy a 2.96€ shopping bag after shopping.
實用資料 Useful Information：
Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche
24, rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris (Lines 10 and 12 – Sèvres Babylone)
+33 1 44 39 80 00
早上 10 時至晚上 8 時, 星期 4 及 5 至 晚上 9 時，星期日休息
10am to 8pm, Thursdays and Fridays till 9pm, Close on Sundays
La Grande Épicerie de Paris
38, rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris (Lines 10 and 12 – Sèvres Babylone)
38, rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris (Lines 10 and 12 – Sèvres Babylone)
+33 1 44 39 81 00
早上 8 時 30 分至晚上 9 時, 星期日休息
8:30am to 9pm, Close on Sundays
8:30am to 9pm, Close on Sundays
