Starbucks

BHV is a monster. A warm and welcoming monster, but a monster nevertheless. As the dumb American I thought — I’ll go to the 5^th floor — the kids’ section — surely there will be some dolls of Babar and Madeleine for me to buy for my little nieces and nephews, right? WRONG. «Perhaps at Toys R Us?» said one of the staff to me. «There’s a Toys R Us in France?» I stutter back in surprised French, though I can’t be surprised that yet another American business venture has found some acceptance here. Yes, he says, unsurprised. Where do you think we put all the cliché French toys for you dummies, I can hear him thinking. I kid.
How am I in BHV, a Frenchy French store, and I can’t buy Frenchy French toys? There’s Hello Kitty here but no Babar?
Anyway, I digress, because I channeled my frustration into a fresh cup of chocolat chaud, made by the lovely people at Starbucks, which is ALSO on the 5^th floor of BHV. Lots and lots of chairs and table space. I regrouped, went back through my gift list, read for an hour or so, and then got back out… to more rain. You won’t find Babar, but you’ll find some warm refreshment.