Coming Back to Life

I never had the pleasure of visiting la Samaritaine before it closed in 2005. Now it's under a grand renovation to transform the former department store in the Art Nouveau style to a upscale hotel with rooftop bar. Other parts will become a"luxury supermarket, featuring a sleek wavy glass front. It will be exciting to see when completed. Paris always finds a way to keep the old while mixing in the contemporary.

BHV

BHV, Bazarre Hôtel de Ville, is one department store that you can take your husband, boyfriend etc. to in Paris and they will be happy shoppers. The basement is like dying and going to Hardware Heaven. If they don't have it done there, you don't need it. I like the other part of the store and across the street is a GREAT pet store.

Paris From Above

Taken from a window at BHV Marais, a lovely view of the Hôtel de Ville Paris.

Paris Rouge - SOLDES!

One benefit of traveling to Paris in January ( and July) is that the whole city is having marvelous sales (soldes).  The rouge banners at BHV caught my eye while waiting in line at the Sempé exhibit across the street at the Hôtel de Ville.

One Last Look

If you look closely in the background, you can see the famous la Samaritaine, one of Paris' grand magasins before it closed in 2005 dues to safety issues.  It is now under complete renovation, to the tune of 450 million euros. I would have loved to see Paris from its rooftop café.  Let me hear from you, dear readers, if you were able to have the pleasure before it closed.

Printemps, un grand magazin

I think this sign is just spectacular. The hat, the dress .....c'est magnifique!

Department stores in Paris are a shopaholic's "fix". I'm not sure if I've ever really purchased anything at Printemps , but I am very content to just wander and look! Today, images of the elegant exterior. Founded in 1865 by Jules Juluzot and designed by Paul Sédille, it now consists of three building and boasts the largest beauty department in the world. Perhaps I should have stopped there for some much needed help and a spritz of my very favorite Chanel No.5 ! Visit their website for everything this wonderful old store has to offer.

Last summer, Peter and I went to the rooftop café and took photographs from there. I thought I had already posted those but apparently not. I will do that very soon!

Well La Tee Dah!

Le Bon Marché is one of Paris' most upscale department stores. Oh it is ever so lovely and chic and PRICEY! According to Peter's Paris blog, bon marché means "a good price or good value". That's hard to believe, but I will say it's not to be missed. Did I buy anything you ask? Well after a lovely lunch, I found my way to the book department and bought two great photography books on Atget and Brassai! And they were a terrific value! While you're there, be sure and visit the food store across the street. It has an amazing selection of everything. Oh, and Peter warned me that they didn't appreciate photographing the interior of the store. Well if you check his blog post and mine, you'll see that neither of us paid a bit of attention to that! ( I'll admit taking mine on the sly)