Whatta MALL! Galeries Lafayette in Paris, France

This is Galeries Lafayette in Paris, France an active shopping district near the Opera, which recently opened the Saint-Lazare train station fed by a continuous flow of travellers from, Paris’s suburbs and the Provinces. We went to Paris last month (March 2008) to celebrate our 3rd year wedding anniversary and happened to drop by in this big mall after seeing the Opera edifice. I have never seen a mall like Galeries Lafayette or should I say I haven't traveled enough (yet) to see such mall like the one in Paris. I have been to Minneapolis but never saw the biggest mall in the United States; Mall of America as they call it. Paris is an epitome of fashion and it stood still especially roaming around this great mall.

Me and Amber at Galeries Lafayette

a busy narrow streets in Paris (taken from Galeries Lafayette crossing bridge)
What a glowing mall indeed!
The Glass Dome

Cosmetic Merchants on the first floor

The main mall is so nice with 5 floors, balconies and glass dome. Inspired by a neo-Byzantine style, the 33-meter high glass dome comprises of 10 painted windows encapsulated in rich metallic frames and decorated in a sculpted floral motif. The banisters of the lower floors adorned with leaflet were signed by Louis Majorelle who also graced the store with the escalator ramp. If you get tired roaming around there's always benches around the mall where you have the time to think "to buy or not to buy". Impulse buyers? don't go to this mall, it will surely broke your wallet. A golden light was used to create a more intimate environment and to set the merchandise a glow. The store has 96 departments, adding to the traditional offerings such innovations as haberdashery, photography, lighting, furniture, travel goods, toys and tableware. On its higher floors, the store offered a tearoom, a library and a hairdressing salon for its cherished clients to unwind or just to escape from the pressures of the city. From the rooftop terrace, one could see all of Paris, with an unobstructed sight of Eiffel Tower. Shopaholic? then don't forget to put this in your itinerary if you will plan to go to Paris and experience a Parisian life for a moment. It was great!