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Tis the Season...in Paris

So here we are in Paris. I have been there four times now and three of them have been during the Holiday season. The City of Light knows how to put on a good show!  Paris and I have not always gotten along.  I first visited Paris at the end of an "if it's Tuesday it must be Belgium" sort of tour back in the fall of 1976.  I opted to skip the visit to Notre Dame ("another cathedral?  I don't think so"!) and didn't go up the Eiffel Tower.. to this date I haven't gone up the Eiffel Tower...(hint:  go to the Tour Montparnasse where the lines are barely there, it's cheaper and you get to see a view of the Eiffel Tower and the rest of Paris.  Magnificent!). My whole attitude towards Paris back in 1976 was "meh..." and I swore never to go back. Of course I was tired after two hectic weeks and was more interested in finding a cafe with the friends I had made on the tour.  However never say never...oh boy have I learned that!  I always give everything a second chance...sometimes to my disappointment but at least I tried.  On my second trip in December of 1999 (en route from Germany to London)  I discovered Paris wasn't such a bad old place after all. 

So being as I am in a lazy mood this will be a photo diary of my last two seasonal trips to Paris...I got some great shots in 1999 as well folks but I am too lazy to scan photos....in fact I think 1999 was the BEST trip ever to Paris because it changed my mind so completely about that city.  I wandered the streets and fell in...deep like....(I can't say love because then I would be "unfaithful" to London right?)

Hope you enjoy!  Oh and sorry but my expertise in night photography is sadly lacking....



One of the many side streets with lights.

 
The Eiffel tour is lit up every night but I thought having the stars made it so lovely


Champs Elysees at night with Arch de Triomphe in the background


Nutella crepes - yum!  My face was covered in chocolate like a kid's but worth it! 


The Giant Wheel at Place de la Concorde 


One of the hundreds of beautifully decorated shops


This is taken in Galaries Lafayette, a very posh department store in Paris.  I quickly took a photo as I walked through.  As a budget traveler I can't afford to even look at things there!


I loved this cafe!  I had some very warming cheesy onion soup there. 


Cafe au lait and a pastry - typical breakfast in Paris....for me anyway! Well you knew there had to be a food photo...


Hang on Santa!  These are very popular decorations in Europe.


Ooo la la!! 


This is just your typical Parisian street but they do subtle so well...


Here is the Christmas market along the Champs Elysees.   This is where I got the crepe made earlier..all sorts of food and trinkets for sale.  


A drizzly day on a quiet side street lined with cafes - many of the outdoor cafes are sheltered with plastic and I had lunch in one of these.  Token dog photo as well!  Parisians love their dogs!


Sorry, can't remember where this was...anybody know?  But it was lovely!


Skating in front of the Hotel de Ville (city administration; not a hotel!)  I love watching people skating in front of iconic buildings and it looks like so much fun but as I haven't been in skates since the early 80's I resist the temptation.  Don't want to end up with a broken ankle and on the first plane home...noooo thank you!!! 


This "tree" is made from recycled pop bottles - so cool!


Recycled window decorations as well



The Champs Elysees looking towards Concord Place (where Marie Antionette was executed) 



Here is another beautiful side street.  


Last but not least...Notre Dame with its Christmas Tree....

Hope you enjoyed our seasonal trip to Paris!!! 

Comments

Junebug said…
Thanks for those beautiful photos and stories, Laurie. As you know I returned from my first visit to Paris only two weeks before the horror of the attacks. That city does get into your heart. I will return !

June

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