Tag: champs elysees

Shopping in London or Paris – It’s Really the Mall of America

We just visited London and Paris in the last week of August.  To our surprise many of the stores are the same brands we see at our local indoor upscale malls.  What a disappointment!

 Steven Erlanger wrote about this very same disappointment in his September 14, 2012 piece in the N.Y. Times.  His article titled “The Champs-Élysées, a Mall of America” points out that you can see the same old stores you saw back home on this boulevard that was supposed to be “the most beautiful avenue in the world.”  The same stores are also seen on Oxford Street and elsewhere in London.

You know – the Gap, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, and Tiffany & Company.  The only stores missing were Macy’s and Neiman Marcus.

Champ Elysee next to McDonald’s

Mr. Erlanger’s article included pictures of street vendors selling junk from sidewalk blankets outside McDonald’s.  That is an accurate depiction.  The above photo was taken by me on August 30, 2012. 

There is a 15 minute wait for food service in McDonald’s and that busy store is short on available tables.  A 50 something French woman standing in front of me said she loves McDonald’s.

Actually the variety of unique retailers was more interesting in Toronto’s Eaton Centre.

A Trip to Europe

We, my wife and I, left for London England on August 21 for our holiday to London and Paris. It was not the same as going on a safari but since we had never traveled to Europe before this was a special event in our lives.

While the trip did not take us away from civilization it did educate us on the way others live in their cities. We did not suffer from any cultural shock. Western Europe is really very similar to the USA. America’s roots are based upon European culture and behavioral differences are minor.

The single prominent difference is the presence of Muslims. That is fact is enforced by the high number of woman dressed in burqas. Since France introduced its burqa ban in April there have been violent attacks on women wearing the niqab. Niqab is the term used to refer to the piece of cloth which covers the face, worn by some Muslim women.

 Still in Paris, women are wearing the burqa without the niqab as they walk down the Champs-Elysees. That is not the case in London, where all manner of dress is seen.

In the next few days I will be retelling more details of our trip.

In summary it was an extraordinary experience. I am grateful to have had the experience.