Champs Élysée (Heaven on earth)香榭麗舍（樂土）

Champs Élysée

In just a little more than 3 months ago, in August, We walked along the Avenue de Champs Élysée. Now, it becomes a scene of chaos and destruction. 

Champs Élysée is the most famous avenue in the world. Champs-Elysées means "Elysian Fields" which indicates that this street was heaven on earth. Frequently described as 『the world』s most beautiful avenue』, we were strolling during day along this two-kilometre stretch between the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

These days, the demonstrators, known as 『gilets jaunes』 (yellow jackets),  inundated this place last weekend in peaceful  protests over the government』s planned increases in fuel prices. A bunch violent vandals known as 『the breakers,』 infiltrated the demonstrators.  The majestic Champs Élysée was ravaged by hoodlums, who smashed showroom windows, burned cars, looted luxury stores and set scores of fires. 

It makes me wonder who were 「the breakers」? Where were they from? Is there a mastermind behind the scenes? Or is there foreign infiltrators working in the dark?