French grocery store adventure

This is day 2 of being in France.  I  made my visit to a "large" french grocery store or "supermarche" for the first time.  Most of you have the impression including myself that everyone shops at the corner market, which is true, but they also have large grocery stores as well.   Around the corner for the apartment are several small corner markets-most of them have produce, small canned items, a little meat, maybe beverages.  If you want toilet paper, soap or toothpaste you are out of luck and need to venture out to the big market.  

So we hit the market today- as did everyone in the entire area.  The place was packed!  First discovery- a grocery cart will cost you!  Yes, that is right, you have to pay for a cart.  Wes and I were feeling really cheap so we decided grab a small wire basket instead.  Ten minutes into the store we realized that was a mistake and we should have paid for a basket.  Second discovery- I also had this impression in my mind that the french eat all this wonderful whole food that is fresh and made from scratch.  I was shocked to see all the frozen, processed , and canned food available.   The produce section in fact was really small.  I think the local corner store had more of a selection.  Third discovery- if you buy produce, don't just put in your cart.  You need to take it to a scale where a worker weights it for you and prints out a sticker.  Luckily I noticed this before taking all the stuff to the pay counter.   Fourth discovery- being vegetarian here is going to be challenging.

My new shopping buddy-  I will not have a car, so this was essential when walking back to the apartment.