Today we decided to do a little shopping. After all, this is Paris and conspicuous consumption is part of the French lifestyle. So, we went to the heart of the matter in the middle of Paris--the two superstores of Galeries Lafayette and the next-door neighbor, Printemps (http://www.mackoo.com/Paris/grands-magasins.htm). I have never seen anything like this before. The Galeries Lafayette is six stories tall and built around a circle with open stores all around the circle. The circle area in the center is dominated with perfume counters like Dior, Givenchy and Yves St. Laurent. The center is then open to the magnificent dome five stories in the air. Around the center circle on every level are shops. However, there are no walls and doors. The whole thing is open and flows one shop area into another. Each shop is distinguished by their own signs and merchandise. Chanel and Dior, Guccci and Givenchy, Tiffany and Cartier were all there and dozens more. It was truly mind boggling. We walked up to the Tiffany counter and saw a diamond ring that was dazzling for a bit over 500,000 euros. I figured it was about the size of Kim Kardashian's diamond and was suitably impressed. We started on the first floor of handbags, jewelry and accessories. Michael Kors, Chanel, and even Guess were represented as well as dozens more with buttersoft leather in gorgeous colors.

Security was very visible with suited large men at every store with ear phones and official attitudes . The Gucci store was roped off and they only allowed two or three guests at a time in to see the merchandise and buy it. Five people were actually standing in line to get in! We rode the escalator to every floor, stopping to gawk at everything. I saw a beautiful silk and cotton knit tshirt and picked it up to examine. Cory commented that it looked a lot like my Chico's shirts. It was 500 euros! For a t-shirt! We noticed the only people with bags and purchases were either oriental women whose men were carrying four or five bags each or women who appeared to be middle eastern with men carrying their bags.

We moved along to the roof top where there was a green plastic carpet (like grass?) and a picnic area as well as a rather expensive bistro. The view was really great over the city. We could see the Eiffel tower in the distance and the back of the old Opera house just across the way.

Then, we moved along to the sister store next door, Printemps . Equally as classy, but more affordable, we saw many of the same designer names but also affordable perfumes and colognes we carry in our department stores in Phoenix. A very nice suited gentleman wanted us to buy his cologne, but we demurred after sniffing appreciatively. We did find the gourmet section of Printemps and enjoyed a stroll through the food aisles. We sampled the fois gras and decided that would be our purchase today. We wandered through the wine and liquor area and saw huge magnums of very expensive champagne. Cory found a large bottle Glen Fidditch, a premium scotch, that sold for 16,650 euros. Yes, that's over $20,000 for a bottle of scotch! Cory tried to take a picture of it but was stopped immediately by a man in a suit, security, and told no pictures were allowed. Actually, the security was tighter in these stores than in the museums we've visited with priceless masterpieces. We exited with our $30 fois gras and were well satisfied with our purchase.

After lunch at a neighborhood café, tuna on a baguette and a hot dog with melted cheese on a baguette, with wine and beer, we walked towards the river just to sightsee. We came upon a social protest outside the Louvre complete with signs, loudspeakers, music and dozens of police in black riot gear and helmets. People were marching with signs around a platform where speeches were being given to rousing cheers from the crowd. Looked a lot like the 60's in the USA. Making our way through the courtyard of the Louvre, we got out of there and walked on the Seine for a while to the Metro. All in all, it was an interesting day.