Soldes, Soldes, Soldes

Sale, Sale, Sale! All the stores in Paris are having their annual sales promising from 10% to as much as 70% off on clothes and accessories, home goods, and other items I have yet to discover. The stores are a haven right now not only for the discounts they offer but also for temporary shelter (while shopping or dining) from the chilling temperature outside.

The balconies at Galeries Lafayette

I checked out my favorite department at Galeries Lafayette - that is the handbag section. I was astounded at the prices even with the 30-50% discount. Thank goodness I didn't find anything that begged "buy me". I decided to splurge on lunch instead.

On the sixth floor of the Galeries Lafayette on Bd. Haussman, there are three restaurants -Le Café Sushi, Restaurant Sichuan and the self service Lafayette Restaurant. At the latter, you can choose from pasta, grilled dishes, salads or a selection of hot entrées of the day. The pavé de saumon with vegetables (string beans, broccoli, red pepper, mushrooms) and potato balls is 9.90 euros. Only the grilled steak cost over 10.00 euros. It was 14.90. All in all, the menu at the Lafayette posts reasonable prices.

I got a table with a view of the Opera Garnier's rooftop. And behind me the Tour Eiffel was bathed in sunlight, a welcome sight after the snow and rain which greeted my arrival in Paris.

Before leaving the building I took this photo of the famous glass dome of the store. I was standing in the perfume department to take this shot and a Nina Ricci salesperson gave me a whiff of their perfume which smelled very nice. I put the little sniffing card in my coat pocket and forgot my Kleenex was there too. So when I pulled out my Kleenex to blow my nose, I started sneezing. I hope I didn't activate my old allergy to perfume.

The perfume department at Galeries Lafayette

Bienvenue a Paris.

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Photos by Charie

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