He navigated us via several train lines to the boulevard Haussman, where first we ventured into Galeries Lafayette, which has a spectacular giant glass dome and is three separate buildings. Further along the boulevard is Au Printemps, which is three stores in one. De la Mode for fashion; de la Beaute et Maison has the worlds largest beauty department and homewares; the third devoted to menswear.
Think Myer and David Jones after their renovations, then triple the glamour! Everything was so beautifully displayed. Each fashion label had their own changing room area. Makeup artists wore black "tool kits" around their hips, with their brushes at the ready. (No one offered to "Cinderalla" me.)
One floor we visited had men's watches. Brands had their own display areas, so there was a whole section, with several counters, just for, example, Rolex. I looked at some of the prices and gulped.
Designer handbags were another consumer item allocated their own display areas. Some even had thick velvet ropes across the front and a security person allowing the few privileged customers into the mini-store. One handbag caught me eye. Rob commented he thought the leather strap across the front "over did it". For this reasons alone I did not buy the €1000+ item.
Two things worth mentioning about these Citadels to Consumerism. Everything was beautifully displayed. The clothes I saw were all interesting, stylish, wonderful. At home sometimes most of
what I see is hideous. As Jenna once said, 'Clown pants and tent dresses.". Of course the majority of European women I have seen have retained really wonderfully slim figures. Even a lot of men,
especially younger ones, wear their clothes with real flair.
Next we headed underground again, to use the Metro to the Franklin D. Roosevelt stop, to emerge to stroll along the Champs-Élysées. We two decided that every great boulevard must have trees, as this one does. On a Saturday afternoon, this area was a-buzz with shoppers, tourists and those filling in
time.
From there we walked back to see one of the great squares in all of Paris. Place De La Concorde is enormous, with two fountains flanking the pink granite obelisk from Luxor. We walked through the gates of the Jardin des Tuileries. We past several very large round ponds, with water sprouting in the centre. Again those metal outdoor chairs we saw yesterday were in abundance. People encircled each pond, reading, sunbathing, snoozing or just relaxing with others. Strangely, despite the hot day, no-one had their feet IN the water.
The gardens had rows of trees and we noticed the drop in temperature as we moved from the sun into the shade. Just near the Louvre, we were enticed to purchase a cone each from an icecream cart. I bought a few postcards on the way home, from the many street traders who operate from the green stands beside the river.
And shortly after, our day took a complete turn for the worse! In fact it was probably a U-turn!!!!
To be continued ..
You can't do that!! You can't leave us hanging by telling us the day took a turn for the worse and then end with "to be continued...."
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