Shopping at the Galeries Lafayette

After a bit of a rough takeoff on Sunday and some bruising on my backside, I landed safely in Paris on Monday morning. Mika, Terri and I hopped in a cab over to the Galeries Lafayette on Haussmann Blvd. It is a remarkable department store containing almost all of the well-known European designers' lines as well as many of the French highstreet name brands.

The magnificent stained glass dome atop the glorious building is an attraction in itself and provides a very majestic canopy for the shoppers.

Little did we know that there was a fall sale going on known as 3J (three days) so the place was mobbed. We lost Terri almost immediately but started to shop ... and shop ... and shop. We had some laughs over the hairpieces and found some bargains in the skin care section before hitting the clothing levels. We met with Terri as planned a couple of hours later at the Bar a Boulles where Mika treated us to some bubbly beverages. Menswear, wine cellar and gourmet store were next and finally we all agreed that we had had enough of the crowds and the shopping.

We took a cab over to Hotel de Ville where those two did a gum run and I grabbed a much-needed espresso. For the first time ever in Paris, I took the bus!!! Terri had done it before and so she showed us the ropes, so to speak. I really liked it--much more civillized than the Metro (which I detest). We had a nice light meal at Chez Ribe, a small Grand Marnier afterwards and then back to the hotel for the remainder of the layover.