Purchasing a third-generation iPad in Paris (photos)

Apple has a store across the street from the Paris opera house, a flamboyant structure that offers something nice to look at while waiting in line for a third-generation iPad.

Balloon-toting women advertised LeKiosque, a company that sells digital magazines and newspapers, to French iPad customers.

Marieke Loppin waits in line in Paris to buy her fiance a new iPad. "It's his birthday gift. He's so excited to have it," she said.

Paris is famous for its sidewalk cafes, but this one had no customers--perhaps because of the free coffee people for the iPad customers in line.

iOS programmer Joseph Pinkasfeld carries a new third-generation iPad out of the Apple store across the street from the Paris opera house, visible in the background.

The copper-domed Pairs opera house across from Apple's store is adorned with sculptures of rearing centaurs, golden lyres, griffons, birds of prey, and other extravagances.

This advertisement for an Amazon Kindle stood on a bus stop a few feet away from the Apple store where hundreds had queued to buy a third-generation iPad tablet instead.

Security staff kept people away from the Paris Apple store's front entrance, but customers with new iPads were a common sight.

The Apple store in Paris sports the company logo on a flag.