"This can't be real!" I thought to myself as I stepped onto the cobblestone street of the Rue Cler.  I had been on vacation in Paris for almost a week, and decided to take an easy day wandering around.  What I didn't expect was to find a market place that was a slice right out of the 1950's.

The Rue Cler isn't just any market.  There are wooden stands set up that sell a variety of groceries.  They sell meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, wines . . . But what makes it interesting are the people.
 
This pocket of Paris has escaped the passage of time.  For generations, families have been running the shops on this street.  For generations, families have been shopping on these streets as well.  The conversations between the shopkeepers and the customers are more family conversations.  I heard questions such as "Is your daughter feeling better?" or "Are those new shoes?"  What I heard I would expect to hear in a small town, not in a large metropolis like Paris.

I popped into this cheese shop.  Being a lover of cheese I was drawn to the door.  Before I realized it the fragrance of the cheese surrounded me.  A shopkeeper asked me if there was something I'd like to try.  I told her I wasn't interested in trying anything but she insisted.  My mouth started watering as she cut a small piece of Camembert for me.  I tried it.  The smooth texture of the cheese melted in my mouth and exploded on my taste buds.

After leaving the cheese shop I strolled down the street to the Café du Marché.  I thought this would be a great place to watch the people walk by. I sat down at a small table and ordered an espresso.  Looking around me I spotted a small brown dog sitting under the table next to me.  The dog wasn't sniffing or begging.  He was more interested in his master, who was reading the morning paper.

As I sipped my espresso the sound of music grabbed my ear.  A small quartet had started playing some upbeat folk music.  A little old lady in a black dress was dancing around them.  Gypsies perhaps?

In all the places in Paris there is nothing like the Rue Cler.  This street has a small town feel that reflects the heart and soul of the Parisian lifestyle.  It was at the Rue Cler that I left my heart and soul.  Someday I will return there.