Paris Shopping

No trip to Paris would be complete without some shopping, especially for the girls! Window shopping was in order along the Champs-Elysees where famous French fashion designers' shops are plentiful..........and very expensive. The window displays were fabulous but many of the clothes would look somewhat out of place around our Southern town! Jasmin enjoyed posing by the windows but for serious (affordable!) shopping we headed to department and drug stores.

After the long hikes to the historic buildings, the beautiful parks, and so many museums, the well earned rest at a sidewalk cafe is the place to see and be seen in Paris. It's comparable to watching theatre for the price of a cafe au lait as the people pass by, fashionably attired, their dogs at their heels. Oh yes, word of caution here - sidewalks are like mine fields - dogs seem to reign and nobody cleans up after them! Here we stopped at the famous Cafe de la Paix, the interior is gorgeous and it's where my husband took me to dinner on my first visit to Paris in the sixties! That evening, sitting in the elegant circular booth next to us, was designer Coco Chanel herself - I was impressed!

Jasmin picks out her Paris shirt. Sandy does Paris too! This favorite dog has been on all our trips and is probably the most travelled stuffed canine around................but wait, surprise! Sandy's tummy unzips (she's actually an English pajama case) and inside is Tiny cat - the most travelled kitty too. Next country coming up guys - off to Canada soon! But, how long before Jasmin decides they are too childish, and so well worn from an over-abundance of love and hugs, that they must be left at home? My heart will break when they are exchanged for an i-Pod!.....................and so, it's Au Revoir Paris......time to head South. The city was wonderful and to see it again through the eyes of a child was special.At the Gare de Lyon we chose baguettes and fruit for the five hundred mile journey on the fast, comfortable, TGV bullet train..............Southwest France here we come. During the trip Jasmin worked on her art journal - so many memories to record. See you in the vineyards!