Friday, September 23

Not much to report today - Kathy and I decided to take it somewhat easy.

First up - we arrived at the Place de la Concorde, where the picture below was taken (note the Eiffel Tower in the background).   Then, a morning stroll through the Tuileries, which is the wonderful garden just to the west of the Louvre - which was designed by the same fellow who did Versailles.  Again, very "French" gardens with some very different modern sculptures along the path.

My cooking teacher Paule had told me that the Palais Royal was fabulous - this is the former royal palace - which I believe now houses government offices.  The gardens are open to the public - which are lovely.

 

Next up - shopping - but not just any old shopping - this is shopping at Galleries Lafayette on rue Haussmann.  Anyway, the place was a zoo - I've never seen more people in a department store in my life - and I've been in quite a few.  Not much luck though - except for a scarf (more on that later).  The big fashion tip from Paris - FUR.  It appears that the sensibilities of North America have not reached these shores, or if they have, they don't care.  Lots of it.

We tried to also visit another department store, Samaritaine - but it appears to have closed permanently to build a hotel.  Too bad, because I liked to shop there.

Then on to BHV, another department store which doesn't specialize in fashion but has some - including the same scarf I just purchased from Lafayette - for less than the normal price and also 40% off!!!! I hate when that happens .....

Another great dinner in Paris - this time at a favourite Italian restaurant, Fuxia - where Alan and I went and also took Conor and Ben.  Wondeful food and great Italian wine.   Also another short visit to our now favourite Scottish bar, Auld Alliance where we did not have any Guinness, but enjoyed ourselves non the less!