We spent the weekend in Paris trying to avoid beggars, tramps and drunks who littered Rue de Rivoli, Boulevard St Germain and the main churches on Sunday. This was not a familiar sight. One man begging had clearly had his face badly burned, others had appalling injuries or deformities. It was uncomfortable. This is not how a major European city should function. We didn't know whether this was a nation or a city issue or both or whether it was cuts in social security budgets..... whatever.... it was a first for us.
Elsewhere moderate hotels and restaurants were charging extraordinarily high prices for second and third rate services whilst the major brands - Louise Vuitton and the like - boasted handbags and briefcases at £4k-£5k each.
It was a strange parallel universe.