Arc de Triomphe at Place de l'Étoile at the top of the Champs-Élysées

We took a stroll around the Arc de Triomphe, stopping for some chocolat crepes' and then down the Champs-Elysees. The Arc de Triomphe was built by Napoleon to celebrate his many victories on the field of battle throughout Europe during his conquest.

As you can see, it is huge, and is situated in the middle of a traffic round-about into which 12 major streets empty. I understand that the French insurance companies do not assign guilt to any participant in an accident in this round-about, as the traffic rules are so vague...they just agree to split the cost. Usually the traffic in the circle must give way to traffic entering the circle, which is the opposite of the US rule. We understand there are stairs leading to the top, and you can just make out a person in the left corner, but we couldn't see a safe way to cross the circle, and Chris has knee problems that would have prevented the climb anyway.

The Champs-Elysees, is a wide boulevard lined with car dealerships and stores and restaurants. There is a McDonalds there. We didn't try it, but Chris had a McCheese Royal at the McDonalds in the mall near the entrance to the Louvre. She reports is it the same as the US version, only more expensive..$4.50 (Euros). The car dealerships are more sedate than those in the US, only displaying 3-4 vehicles on the showroom floor and not having a big lot out front.

Of course, we had to shop.

On the Champs-Elysees we found a man who had puppies and a hat full of coins. Chris contributed. It was a unique way of begging, and the girls enjoyed petting the puppies.

We had been warned that French people were rude, but we have found it to be just the opposite. If you make the feeblest attempt at their language, they are more than happy to try out their English on you, and most of them are very good. The French people value manners and etiquette. I believe the word etiquette is of French origin. We have been warmly greeted everywhere we have gone. Paris is full of all kinds of people, too. Within a few yards of our apartment, we can find French people who came from the middle east and are running a kabob restaurant. Our Sunday School teacher was from Tahiti. The French are very fashion conscious, too. Over 60,000 people are employed in the high fasion industry here in Paris, and we can be recognized as Americans by our clothes alone...even though we made an effort to get rid of clothes with obvious American labels..like all of my Ute gear.

I left all of my hats at home, because they all had sports logos on them, so I am on a quest to find a hat that can be dressy and casual and warm, but be worn on a golf course too. Any ideas?