Aux Champs-Élysées

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

The avenue has many looks and 

is always well-dressed whether at Christmas,

for Quatorze juillet, or anytime in between.

Aux Champs-Élysées

Aux Champs-Élysées

Au soleil, sous la pluie

À midi ou à minuit

Il y a tout ce que vous voulez

Aux Champs-Élysées ♪♫

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

75008, 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

Printemps

Printemps

Dressed in its Christmas finery...

Perhaps I am hungry but it makes be think

of a delicious pastry, 

a religieuse perhaps.

Printemps

64, boulevard Haussmann

75009, Paris

Carrousel Palace

Carrousel Palace

The carousel is part of the grand setting of the 

Christmas Village on Avenue des Champs Elysees.

One could see Christmas lights from the

Arc de Triomphe to La Grande Roue 

at Place de la Concorde

Rond-point des Champt-Élysées-Marcel-Dassault

75008, Paris

 

Champs Elysées et La Grande Roue

Champs Elysées and the Big Ferris Wheel

La Grande Roue becomes an iconic landmark 

between November and February each year.  

It sits in Place de la Concorde at the foot of Avenue des Champs Elysées.  

An adult can ride for 10€ and see all of Paris.

Avenue des Champs Elysées

75008, Paris

 

Avenue des Champs Elysées

Avenue des Champs Elysées

Dressed for the Christmas season

the "avenue" is awash in alternating shades 

of blue and purple

Ave des Champs Elysées

75008, 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

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

 

Marché Cadet - les lumières de Noël

Marché Cadet

This pedestrian street always has a festive evening presence, but during the Christmas season the lights provide a canopy for the length of the street.

If you are in Paris during the holiday season, 

take an evening bus or if you are brave, ride a Vélib, 

to see the variety of Christmas decorations all around Paris.

Marché Cadet

Rue Cadet

75009, Paris

Métros Le Peletier et Cadet