Did you know I was a hoarder?
First, I think I picked up every brochure in Europe.
When I shop I just can't buy one I gotta buy 3 or sometimes more.
Consider my hoarding activity while on this trip...
1. Sweaters - I bought 4 black sweaters. One had a v-neck (I am wearing it now) and a grey and white stripe across the chest, one is ribbed with snaps at the shoulder, one is a crew neck with a zipper coming off the left collar and the last has a red stripe on the arms the number 7 printed on the back with a mock neck with two zippers up the neck on both sides.
FYI, I did plan to buy a bunch of clothes while in Europe since I couldn't find anything at home. I like the Euro fits better anyway.
2. Three jars of hot English mustard. I had this on one of my sandwiches and loved it. It was like yellow mustard but hot as hell. Nostril clearing.
3. Tea. One tin of Hediard's Rose flavoured tea (I love it), a large tin of loose Kousmichoff Russian style tea with orange bergamot flavour, three boxes of Waitrose Earl Grey Tea bags, one box of Waitrose Darjeeling tea, one box of Waitrose loose Earl Grey and one box of Whittard's loose Earl Grey.
None of them were really expensive for quality tea. The most expensive two were the Hediard's and the Kousmichoff tea which was about 10 bucks, but it's a big tin. The boxed tea bags were only a couple bucks each. I like to drink them at work and remember of my trip.
4. French Grey Sea Salt. I bought two bags that I bet were at least 3 or 5 lbs each. I use this all the time in cooking, on sandwiches and for flavouring. This is the rock salt type, not granulated.
French grey sea salt is great. It is unrefined and unwashed thus giving it a grey color. It is usually even a bit damp. It tastes great sprinkled on tuna sandwiches, in salads and added to cooking. It's a dash of France in your food.
I already have 2 bags at home so I am stocking up!
I never use iodized salt, compared to sea salt it tastes fake.
5. Shower Gel - Europeans love their shower gels! I always pick up a bottle to use while visiting and take the remainder home.
Knowing that using the remainder when I get home reminds me of my trip every time I shower. This time I bought 4 bottles. 2 in France, 2 in London. The ones from France were the “Fa” brand in aqua scent and a lime scent. The two from London were Boots house brand in an aromatherapy ocean scent and a ylang ylang scent.
6. Cocoa - I bought 4 packages of cocoa. Two were from a store in Paris called Cacao et Chocolat and were cocoa with hot cayenne (or maybe chili) pepper in it. If you haven't had cocoa with hot chili in it, add a pinch of chili powder next time you make a cup of hot cocoa. It's great.
See the film “Cocolat” too.
The other two cocoa items I bought were a box of “Kousmichoff” cocoa and another box of French cocoa I got in a market.
All this should keep me until I return to Europe next time!
Blogging from Europe via Blackberry and AT&T Wireless
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