“Street culture” in Mortagne

I once read somewhere that France has the most elaborate street culture in the world. I think what was meant by that was the colors, design, and signs on all the businesses along the streets of almost every French town. Mortagne-au-Perche, where we spent a short vacation last week, is no exception.

A bookstore in Mortagne

The name of the bookstore above has a double meaning. Le Goût des Mots means both "the flavor of words" and "a taste for words." As you can see, the streets in the neighborhood are being repaved with paving stones.

Avoir envie...

The shop above is called J'ai Si Envie — "I so want" whatever. It sells an unusual variety of items — gourmet and exotic groceries, teas, coffees, and toys made out of wood.

Boudin à toutes les sauces

The sign on a butcher shop lists all the different kinds of boudin noir — black pudding or blood sausage that the owner makes and sells. Chestnuts, prunes, apples, walnuts, figs, candied oranges, Camembert cheese, grapes, and hot red pepper are some of the choices. Or you can get the smoked boudin or the traditional style.

The butcher's name is Pascal Cédille.

Monsieur Cédille was talkative and funny. He and our French friend Marie had quite a discussion about how different sausages and cuts of meat could be cooked or not and, if so, how. The boudin noir and other sausages and pâtés we bought there were excellent. My favorite flavor of boudin was the traditionnel.