Christmas in Paris
Joyeux Noel de Paris!
May this season of joy and celebration bring you and your loved ones peace, happiness and the fulfilment of all your desires.
Paris is often described as La Ville-Lumiere, the City of Light. This is because Paris is one of the most well-lit cities in the world and I noticed this from my very first days here.
In 1828 they began to light the Avenue de Champs-Elysees with gas lamps, the first city in Europe to do so. These days, you will notice that all the streets, even small side alleys, are well lit. It encourages you to explore the city.
At Christmas time, there are even more lights as the city dresses up for the season. I have taken a few photos to give you a sample, but you really have to be here to have the full experience.
As you can see above, the Moulin de Galette in Montmartre which is the setting for Renoir’s famous painting (mentioned in yesterday’s blog), is all decked with red lights and a white Christmas tree in the entrance.
As we have been travelling through the city over the past few days, we have seen many of the main streets strung with lights overhead.
The local bakery where I sampled my first pain au chocolat (YUM!) was full of animated Christmas decorations.
The picture at the left doesn’t give you the full effect, but just imagine many of those plush animals, dolls and Christmas decorations going up and down, up and down endlessly! Perhaps I’ll take a movie the next time and post it for you to see.
Everywhere, you find kiosks full of merchants selling Christmas wares – and delights for the tourists.
The tackiest booth I have seen to date was the one at the Eiffel Tower (photo to the left). It had blue flashing lights and numerous reindeer peering out from under all the Christmas toques. I am sure the fellow standing in front straight as a ramrod is the kiosk owner posing for the picture.
And of course, there is shopping at the REAL stores like those you find on the Champs-Elysees. Said to be one of the most beautiful streets in the world, it is also home to some of the most expensive stores.
Last Sunday afternoon, David and I strolled the avenue (with thousands of others!) and braved two of the stores – Virgin Media where I had to buy minutes for my European cell phone, and Sephora. Both stores were filled wall-to-wall with people.
Sephora sells only the best fragrances, make-up and cosmetics, and I dived into the crowds to fulfill a special request from my 15 yr. old grandson for some cologne. The experience was overwhelming! David only lasted 5 minutes before he had to go outside and wait for me. I had a great time!
I snapped this photo after I successfully made my purchase, and we headed back to a quieter area of the city to recover.
As we sit here on Christmas Eve with the tantalizing aromas of David’s cooking wafting through the flat, we are thinking of all of you back in Canada or wherever you may be. May you have a wonderful holiday season and a glorious New Year.
Bonnes fetes!
David & Ruth Anne
