la nativité

la nativité

Peace on Earth....

Paris church

75016, Paris

Les Villages de Noël

Les Villages de Noël

Although there was no snow in Paris,

the white-flocked trees provided 

an imaginary winter wonderland

Rond-point des Champs-Élysées-Marcel-Dassault

75008, Paris

Le Bon Marché

Le Bon Marché

Even in late November the Parisians were 

busy holiday shopping.

(So were the tourists)

Le Bon Marché

24, rue de Sèvres

75007, Paris

Le Bon Marché

The animated windows of 

Le Bon Marché are usually contemporary

and colorful.

Even in a steady rain

the wide awnings kept the 

families dry as the young children

squealed with delight.

Bon Marché

24, rue de Sèvres

75007, Paris

Printemps - une vitrine de Noël

Printemps

Christmas Window

After several years of  edgy, often punk-styled, windows,

Printemps has returned to a more traditional, romantic theme

in the 2015 Christmas window displays

In over an hour spent photographing the windows of

Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, we saw only a handful of 

children at the viewing stands to see the windows.

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Église Saint Roch - nativité

Saint Roch 

The most beautiful sculpture of the nativity...

Christmas blessings and a hope for peace on earth.

Église Saint-Roch

Rue Saint-Roch

75001, Paris

Les ballerines de Palais Garnier

The ballerinas of Palais Garnier

On a rainy December morning these ballerinas 

danced in the windows of the gift shop of Palais Garnier.

Never miss a chance to dance...

Palais Garnier

75009, Paris

Printemps - un grande table de fête!

Printemps

What a grand party that was!

Macarons, cristal, Champagne, et des chaussures!

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Printemps - 2006

Printemps 

Christmas Windows 2006

The artistry and animation of the Printemps windows

 in 2006 were remarkable, 

and there was no corporate name associated for promotion.  

There was no Chanel, Lagerfeld, etc.

The theme, I suppose, was dancing pots and pans, 

and each window had distinctive bright colors.

I thought you would like a vivid photo of the 2006 windows.

Printemps

Boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Des sapins de Noël

Christmas trees

The first time I saw trees bundled like this on the streets of Paris, 

I first thought of mummies.  

These are quite tall and grand 

when you consider the size of many Paris apartments.  

Can you imagine toting one of these 

over your shoulder through the Paris Métro?

Passage du Grand Cerf

Rue Saint Denis

75002, Paris

l'émerveillement!

Awe!

The Christmas windows of Printemps are amazing

as can been seen in the face and reflection of this young girl.

bon weekend

Printemps

Boulevard Haussman

75009, Paris

Un sapin violet - Rue de Sèvres

un sapin violet

With an emphasis on color, 

the new shades of Pantone coffee mugs caught my eye.  

The crocheted tea cozy is an updated version 

of an old-fashioned favorite.

The windows just dazzle!

8, rue de Sèvres

75006, Paris

 

Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois - la crèche

Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois

In the large space of the "crossing" 

where the nave, choir, and transept intersect 

is placed this manger scene. 

The rug, candles and 15-foot trees

 give an Old World appearance. 

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois

2, place du Louvre

75001, Paris

Printemps - des chaussures et des bonbons

Printemps

Christmas windows

Two of my favorite things:

shoes and macarons

Printemps
64, boulevard Haussmann
75009 Paris

Réflexion - Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

...a delicious panoply of lights

Christmas in shades of blue, white, and silver

Ave des Champs-Élysées

75008, Paris

Métro Franklin D. Roosevelt

Cartier - la panthère

Cartier

This jeweler has an over-the-top display for the holidays.  

The building is washed in red light 

and one expects that the panthers will leap at any moment.

This well-known street was unusually quiet 

which suits me just fine.  

It could be that the intermittent rain 

and frigid wind kept the shoppers at home.  

No, I did not do any shopping here.

Cartier
154, avenue des Champs-Élysées
75008, Paris

Galeries Lafayette - le dôme en violet

Galeries Lafayette

The iconic art nouveau glass dome is illuminated in purple this year as it celebrates the beginning of its 101st anniversary.  The theme is thankfully child-centered at Galeries Lafayette for Christmas 2013, and there are many animated windows to delight children and adults alike.  

As you walk into the rotunda area filled with counters of perfumes, the sheer size of the dome will take your breath away.  In certain department stores they frown on photos but this shot is replicated by every visitor to Galeries Lafayette apparently with the blessing of management.

Galeries Lafayette
Boulevard Haussmann
75009, Paris
Métro Chaussée d'Antin La Fayette

Printemps - Christmas windows 2013

Printemps

The windows are dazzling 

and the mirror reflections in this fashion window add to the look.  

I chose to cut off the name of the sponsor 

as the displays were much better before the grand magasins 

sold their window designs.  

Now the sponsor's name is splashed liberally 

throughout the windows and the store.

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Rue de la Paix - une fille française?

Rue de la Paix

It was raining on the evening of Beaujolais Nouveau Day,

but this chic French girl with her long black velvet coat 

and red plaid parapluie was content to stroll down Rue de la Paix 

to window shop in Place Vendome.  

The streets were almost empty and the three of us 

enjoyed the lights, the misty rain, and the unbelievable windows.

Yes, she is a French girl

Jaquet Droz

(275 year old watchmaking business)

8, rue de la Paix

75002, Paris

Rue Cler

A favorite street of mine as you can run into old friends and make new ones.  This pedestrian street is only a few blocks long, but it is a delightful neighborhood  and the decorations are appealing in the daylight as well as at night.

I am thinking about my friend Christiane who I first met here several years ago, 

and who shared with me her treasured fèves anciennes.  We have kept up with each other over the years, and Holly and I saw her in Paris recently.

It makes me think of an old poem, "Make new friends and keep the old.  

One is silver and the other gold."  I do treasure the friends I have made in Paris.

Rue Cler

75006, Paris