I've recently moved offices to near Bastille, which is an area I already know very well since most of my friends live in that area. Today I set out to buy a sandwich for lunch, and was hoping to find a nice boulangerie that I hadn't seen before.

The reason I wanted a new one is that the one I already know about has the most bizarre staff, and is usually far from welcoming. However, their sandwiches and cakes are pretty good though (not fantastic, but good), so I do go there now and again.

Unfortunately today I couldn't find another boulangerie (I'll try a different route tomorrow), and ended up there again.

The tall guy who stares at you intensely wasn't there, so it was slightly less of the 'Deliverance' ambience today, but the Madame of the boulangerie was in her usual fine form. She stood rock solid by her cash register, while the staff dashed around taking the orders. They'd then tell her the order and she'd tell you the amount and glare at you. You'd then pay, but have to put the money in a little bowl. Don't ever hand the money like some foolish foriegner since apparently life threatening germs can be caught from grubby coins and notes. She'd then take the money and toss the change into the bowl, which you'd try to scoop up while not getting in the way of the person behind you.

My sandwiches were in a bag just next to her, but I couldn't quite reach them (partly because it felt like taking the favourite squeaky toy from a rottweiler). She stood there and stared at me and I stared back (kind of, my stare was more directed at my sandwiches), and eventually one of the serving girls came over and handed them to me.

Her behaviour isn't all that unusual (for boulangeries) actually. It's not the majority of boulangeries (all the local ones near chez moi are really nice, and they're very happy to see you), but I've come across this in a handful of boulangeries now. Of course it's a culture difference, but not one that's going to sell more bread...