Lethargic in Paris on a Saturday afternoon

I had half a day for my stopover at Paris before my flight on Sunday morning so I booked myself into the Mercure beside Gare de Lyon for the night. The room was clean and comfortable with a good bed but bit tight (so are all rooms in Paris less you have big bucks). I was aching all over from lugging my overweight luggage (paid a fine of 60 euro for that to Etihad!) up and down the second level of the TGV and absolutely sweating from the effort. After a rest, I decided to go for a walk in town - bought a full day Metro ticket for 6.40 euro (the last time in 2008 was 5 euro) and off I went into the underground Parisian labyrinth called the Metro.

As I was rather clueless and planless (except with some orders to buy fridge magnets), I somehow ended up in Champs Elysées. Well, I decided then to take a long, nice lunch (but not too expensive) and so I ended up at Chez Clement just next to Lancel...spent the rest of the afternoon browsing and window shopping aimlessly and I managed even to look up the Eiffel tower from Trocadero...

Here's a pictorial...

 The Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama immortalised in wax on Vuitton's display window.

 Fresh oysters for starters...

and some bourgogne snails in herb butter

grilled rack of lamb on vegetable Tian

 performing artist on the kerb

 the stairwell at Guerlain, a classified monument (Guerlain is one of the oldest perfume house)

 concept cars on display at Citroën

 view from Trocadero

 window display at rue St. Honore

 the Madeleine

 Hermes's saddle shop at George V

Went back to Chez Clement because the nearby Fouquet's refused me a place - I don't have reservation but so were the couple before me whom are French (they thought I was some stupid tourist who doesn't understand French). The fact was that it was already 8 pm and the freaking restaurant was bloody empty. The waitress at the reception counter was neither helpful nor friendly and at a minimum of 80 euro set menu, I find that to be very abusive. They are absolutely on my BAN LIST next visit!!! To add salt to the injury, the restaurant doesn't even have a Michelin star to its menu to boast at knowing that many Michelin starred restaurants do have menu that starts at 80 euros!

the infamous one...on my BAN LIST

back at Chez Clement

 Langoustine for starters

 Interesting decor all over the restaurant.

steak of duck breast with green peppercorn sauce

 Lancel was still open at 9.30 pm!

At Gare de Lyon.