Rue Cler and the Champs Elysees

We decided not to walk too far today (famous last words) so we headed off to the infamous Rue Cler looking for inspiration for our dinner. Rue Cler is one of Paris' most beloved market streets. Brimming with cafés, boulangeries and specialty shops, this is where local Parisians go for daily shopping.

Our first stop, and what turned out to be our last stop, for the day was Le Repaire de Bacchus, a speciality wine shop. The "cavier" was an Englishman who fell in love with France and a french woman, when he was in his twenties. We talked for over an hour. He taught us about french wines, compared them with Australian and American wines and chose two regions of France that best suited our wines tastes. (Cote du Rhone and Languedoc-Roussillion). He then gave us the addresses of the best Boucherie to buy ham and Boulangerie to buy bagguettes and lunch was sorted. Haha

After lunch we decided to walk to the Arc de Triomphe. Last time we were in Paris it was closed for renovation and was partially wrapped in plastic and

scaffolding. Three and a half hours later we were home after a stroll down the Champs Elysees and Avenue George V.

It is also interesting to note the level of security in Paris now. The entire Eiffel Tower is surrounded by security fencing and you have to line up for metal detectors and bag checks to get in. Same with most of the up market shops on the Champs Elysees. Bag checks just to get into a store. Not to mention the security at all the museums. There is still the military walking everywhere in groups of 4 wearing their bullet-proof vests and guns at the ready. Made one feel safe in a weird sort of way.