January 13th 2011
Shopping by Paris 2011
It was four months ago when H and I packed our bags, drove down to the south in an attempt to run away from the cold snap and snow. I then flew to the Philippines for a quick pre-Christmas visit, returned to Europe to meet H in Athens, saw the 400BC-old Parthenon for the first time, then went for a one-week driving holiday to the Peloponnese where one of our stops was Olympia, the site of the first Olympic games that took place in 776BC. And while Mainland Europe was covered in heavy snow, we were picking clementines under the warm sunshine of Corfu, Greece. I missed the photo opportunities of snow and Christmas decoration shots of Paris which would have graced the Nov/Dec pages of my site but at least, we were greatly spared from “one of the worst winters” as our neighbour puts it. “The lake was frozen!”, “the gusty winds almost blew my caravan away..” he cried.
But snow or wind, I did miss Paris enormously! Well, I adore Greece and all its warm climate, mythical seascape, the beautiful cuisine and the paradisiac fruits and vegetables but I need the art, culture and buzz of Paris. Fortunately, while it is still one of the most expensive cities in the world, we were lucky to stumble upon a ridiculously cheap spot in the outskirts, with a small garden, bordered by a lake and comfortable enough to base ourselves in, hopefuly, for a long long time…
So yesterday, I walked and walked all day long till I almost dropped and my feet were starting to burn, but it was all worth it and now I could share with you some images of how Paris looks like at this time of the year:
This is the window display of the Paris Tourist Office at rue des Pyramides. The logo of this year is: Paris - Capital of Shopping
Everyone has been busy preparing for the 5-week sale, even the posting of advertising banners are running late: even the Tourist Office near Metro: Anvers doesn’t have the Shopping Book guides, they told me to return at 11am. I finally got a copy from the Tourist Office in rue des Pyramides.
CHAMPS-ELYSEES
At the Champs Elysées, I stopped at the Peugeot showroom where this cute little thing caught my attention. The Kart Up is one of the four City Toyz designed in 2000 to evoke the pleasure of motoring. This “little bombshell” can sit two people and the wind screen also serves as its glass roof. Cool!
The “zebra” display at Louis Vuitton trying to balance LV bags. Advertising doesn’t make sense, it just tries to catch your attention…
I took a photo of these two Louis Vuitton sales ladies to show you the LV beltbags nicely tucked on their waists. I know that waiters in restaurants keep beltwallets as they also serve as their own cashiers. Everytime a customer pays in cash, they settle the sale by giving the change on the spot. But for LV sales staff, I’m sure the payment is done centrally at a cashier’s kiosk, unless they are just modelling their own leather products….
This Eric Bompard shop in the Champs-Elysees seems to be a winner! According to the Shopping Book, this French designer turns the fine; silky-soft flece of Mongolian goats into stylish, comfortable jumpers and accessories. France’s leading cashmere brand now holds shop at the new 600m2 space at one of the most beautiful avenues in the world.
This cool car at the Toyota Showroom in the Champs-Elysees is not for sale. It has been put there to create the new Toyota-Feeling. The Number 1 Japanese car manufacturer has a new concept: to attract the young and the female client…..
….. hence, the new showroom houses an Internet-café, a bistro with international cuisine, multimedia installations with interactive games, video programs and a Lexus-luxury-lounge.
If you are dying for a good coffee and pastry, you can do it in style at this Art Deco restaurant of La Duree.
Champs-Elysees
And don’t forget to try their macaroons. La Duree, founded in 1862, is world famous for its quality macaroons in traditional and new flavours.
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This is Maison d’Alsace still decked with its Christmas decoration. The building houses the Tourist Office of Alsace, shops, restaurants and venue for teaching Alsatian cuisine. About two years ago, this is where I attended a biscuit-making class for free.
Strasbourg is the capital of the Alsace region in the northeast, bordering Germany. It is the seat of the European Parliament, Council of Europe, among others.
Champs Elysees
A Japanese couple doing their (Chanel) shopping. That’s where husbands come in handy: not only are they the bankers but also the porters!
AVENUE MONTAIGNE
One of the chic-est shopping street of Paris is Avenue Montaine, and it’s not easy to get into the luxurious shops without getting through tight security staff..
Oh, but the men do their shopping, too! Unless it’s for the missus…
The filthy rich’s perfume glass dispenser
Love that vintage look!
MADELAINE/OPERA DISTRICT
One thing I like about Paris boutiques is the interior decoration
The largest epiphany cake (galette du rois) on display in Fauchon
A chocolate bag would be a nice valentine gift to your girlfriend
..or this chocolate high heeled shoe, make sure it’s the right size
A christmas macaroon tree, no need to throw and recycle, just eat it!
Hmmmm..I can almost smell the scent of these roses
Test tubes with styrofoam grains…what a creative shop window display
Place Vendome
The most expensive shops can be found in the most expensive square of Paris - Place Vendome
The Christmas decoration in Place Vendome is still in place
The Ritz Hotel where Princess Diana and Dodie Al Fayed had their dinner before that fateful car accident where they lost their lives in 1997
THE COVERED PASSAGES OF PARIS
Galerie Vivienne
Built in 1823, it is the most elegant and most luxurious shopping gallery of Paris.
The geometrical symmetry of the mosaic floor is designed by Giandomenico Facchina (Italian) who also did similar work for Opera Garnier, Musee Carnavalet….
It’s nice to see the Christmas lights still intact in the gallery.
The shop of “Merci Gustave!” in Galerie Vivienne sells all sizes, colours and even shapes of the greatest Parisian icon, the Eiffel Tower. It’s the place to buy your souvenir because the shop is a legend in itself.
A fashion poster which is too hard to resist photographing…
Passage des Panorama
Built in 1847, it was one of the very first covered, commercial passageways in the world and is one of the earliest venues of the Parisian philatelic trade.
The art gallery ambience of L’arbre A Cannelle restaurant is perfect for hungry art lovers
Wow! I didn’t know that there’s even a shop for champagne lid collectors!
There’s even a shop dedicated to Saints…
Musee Grevin is the oldest wax museum in Europe.
Epiphany cakes still abound
The ultimate gastronomic Christmas tree!
Here you can buy old coins by the kilo, if not piece by piece
Fasfood signage of old.
It’s in Passage Jouffroy where you can find costume dresses
Another printing shop of old, Stern Graveur
The hand-crafted porcelain dolls of multi-awarded German dollmaker Ruth Treffeisen can be found in this shop at Passage des Panoramas
A wagon restaurant named Victoria Station
A christmas tree made of water bottles
