Champs Elysees

On Friday, our last day in Paris, it was another gorgeous day. We decided to walk down the Champs Elysees.

We took the Metro to the Charles de Gaulle Etoile station and to the Arc de Triomphe. It's open from 10 am to 10:30 pm from Oct to March and until 11 pm the rest of the year. Climbing to the top of the arch cost €8 but visiting the tomb of the unknown soldier (the eternal flame is relit every night at 6:30 pm) and the arch itself is free. Don't try to dodge the traffic circle to get to the arch. Instead, use the underground tunnels. Bypass the line at the ticket booth and climb up the stairs to the base of the arch.

The arch is at the western end of the Champs Elysees.

We followed the Rick Steves' tour, which took us down the north side of the street. You'll pass a McDonald's, which was not allowed to use a yellow arch. Instead the "M" is white--is white classier than yellow?

Of course, there's a Louis Vuitton on the Champs Elysees.

Le Fouquet's started out as a coachman's bistro. Today, the golden plaques at the entrance honor winners of France’s version of our Oscars, the Césars.

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