Quote:
Originally Posted by Meme#1
In France we always buy salamis, ham and cheeses. In Paris there are some very nice large grocery stores.
Bring a nice size foldable bag that you can pack in your suitcase and use to put your goodies in later. I also like to bring zip lock bags to use for lots of things. You might also want to pack some plastic silver wear and a knife is needed to cut salamis. If you pack it in your big bag that goes in cargo, I'm pretty sure you can take it with you.
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I second the suggestion of taking a packable extra bag with you, and large baggies are always useful for many things. If you have room you might also consider taking a small insulated bag with you; think "lunch bag" (I take this in my carry on for my snacks on the flight, as I don't eat the airline food). Europe can be hot in the summer, and the hotels rarely (never?) have options for keeping things cold. That means that you can't easily re-freeze a block of blue ice*, so you might leave that at home. But an insulated bag will, at least, keep your newly purchased, and chilled from the store, items cool for awhile. Europeans tend to buy their groceries daily; this is a nice habit to get into while there. I love to shop in other countries; it is relaxing and enjoyable for me to see all the different options, or sometimes just the different presentations, that we don't see in our own countries. Shopping for fresh food every day or two, every country or city, is a fun way to learn about the places you are traveling through**.
Cheeses in France and Switzerland are excellent, and you will enjoy the options available. But don't feel you need to stock up before continuing on your journey to Germany. Germany's cheeses can easily hold their own against the others, and their sausages are wonderful. I am only slightly biased; I lived in Germany for 3 years, where I met and married my husband, LOL
ETA: *That blue ice, in any case, would need to go in your checked baggage, were you to take it, because of the liquid/gel inside; really not worth the hassle
ETA, again: ** My in-laws, especially my mother in law, thought that one of the nicest outings I took her on when she visited us in the States was the fancy supermarket. She wondered at the the vast array of produce and meat, and just the whole experience, which was so different from what she was used to. I feel the same when shopping in other countries - not necessarily the greater array (unlikely: EVERYTHING is bigger and better in America), but the difference. It's not just shopping; it is experiencing how the locals live. Embrace it.