Tuesday, December 24, 2019

A Paris Christmas

 In Paris, Christmas is all about the fanciful lights, playful displays often incorporating toys, cartoon characters and the like... all the things designed to bring out the children in all of us! As such, I chose our intern, Conner (a Little Darlings doll all the way from Dolltown) to lead us on this magical tour.
Our journey begins on the Champs Elysees. This world's famous avenue is lined in twinkling ruby lights.
Off to the side on the Avenue Montaigne (high fashion district), it is a winter wonderland where the trees are etched with tiny LED lights right down to the smallest of branches! It is magical!
Not far away....there is Place Vendome, the high fashion jewelry district. Decorations here are elegant. Each boutique has a tree lit up in white lights. In the center of the square...taller, perfectly symmetrical trees adding to grace of the environment.
We keep walking towards the opera. Behind it are the department stores where all of the magic begins. In front of Galeries Lafayette store, all of the trees are delicately etched in more tiny white lights.
But further down the street, the lights get very colorful...a prelude of things to come (in the windows of Au Printemps department store!
Au Printemps department store has gone to the birds!
They are busy cooking up a storm for the holidays!
The parrots dance. They twerk!!!
They get into the beauty products and spruce themselves up!
They are some of the most stylish birds of the season!!!
You can count on their friends to provide the entertainment!


Down the street, however....at Galeries Lafayette....it's all about the bees!!!
These are very busy bees....busy at work to get all of those holiday presents made!

Why, there's even a queen bee on hand to make sure all goes well!
Meanwhile....inside the store, there is a gigantic Christmas tree with huge ornaments. 

Across town, there is BHV-Marais department store. Their theme: A Strasbourg Christmas. Strasbourg is the Christmas capital of France. It is known for its Christmas villages complete with small chalets and "Made in France" artisanal goods from the region! This year, the windows of BHV pay homage to this part of France! 





Another attraction in town for the Christmas Holidays, "Festival of Lights: An Illuminated Ocean" at the Jardin des Plantes (the botanical gardens of Paris). Working in conjunction with artisans from the annual Chinese light exhibition, the garden is lined with what appears to be silk on wire-frame sculptures in the daylight. In the daylight, they are bright with plenty of detail and movement.... almost what you would expect in a Carnival float!


But at night....when its dark..... and they turn on the lights embedded within each piece.... it is a magical experience. With its theme based on underwater flora and fauna, visitors stroll through these illuminated paths  while experiencing the sensation of being deep below the surface of the ocean.
The lightning is almost surreal. It's as if you are walking through a film clip of monstrous creatures in bright, acidic colors.


Eventually we rise to the top of the water.
...and are  joined by animals that live above the water.

'Illuminated Ocean" which continues through January 19, 2020 aims to raise awareness of protecting our oceans and the endangered species that live within.

I came out of the garden and while on my way home, I passed this really cool candy shop! Oh my, oh my....are those animals made of solid chocolate!!!!


Thank you for your allowing me to take you on this tour. On behalf of April and the gang, I wish each and everyone of you a very Merry Christmas!!!!

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22 comments:

  1. Beautiful!!! Love it!

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    1. Thank you so much. Your lovely compliments are always appreciated.

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  2. You make me want to travel there!

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    1. September is a good month because the weather is usually good and all the Parisians are back in the city. But Christmas, though cold, is a feast for the eyes in terms of the decorations and lights!!!

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  3. Oh WOW! Thank you so much for sharing this tour of Paris at Christmas. It is absolutely stunning! If I had to pick a favorite it would be the Festival of Lights at the Botanical Gardens....so beautiful. Thank you again and may you and the gang have a very Merry Christmas!

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    1. Thank you so much, Chris. This was the second year in a row for the Festival of Lights in Paris. I think the public reaction was really good, so I look forward to that festival going up in the future! I hope you and you gang are enjoying the holiday season. Dolls always make things better!!!

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    1. Every year I look forward to these night time strolls in Paris. There's nothing like Christmas light, decorations and opulent store windows to bring out the child in all of us.

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  5. That is an amazing walk on Paris streets. Thank you for that! You can feel like your're in a fairy tale walking between all these lights. Wonderful!

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    1. Thank you Kamelia. Yes, indeed, this is a very special time to be in Paris. I am so happy I could share these photos with all of you!

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  6. Wonderful lights!!! I hope you had an awesome day!!

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    1. Thank you (and by the way, welcome to my blog). Yes indeed...I have been enjoying the holiday season! Hope your holidays have been enjoyable as well.

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  7. I am very happy to be in a position to share such wonderful moments with my doll friends. Wishing you and your doll family all the best this holiday season.

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  8. First of all thank you for the Christmas fantasy tour. Loved the little girl doll taking us around through Galeries Lafayette and Strasbourg. So opulant and fairytale like. The colors are brilliant and so is your imagination.

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    1. Thank you for your visit as well as your very kind words. This is always such a pleasure to share with my dolly friends. Paris is simply magical during the holidays.

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  9. New Year's looked fantastic and regal. Those gals are so well dressed. I drooled over the the black dress with a ruffled ribbon tie in the front. And they had such a ball climbing all over the place. Looking for someone?

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    1. Ha ha ha.....The dolls always look forward to that very special ball. But it has always been a mystery to me as to how they all made it on top of the piano and back. And voila......now we know!!!!

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  10. Przepiękne dekoracje świąteczne! Magia kolorów!
    Dziękuję za umieszczenie tych fotografii na blogu. Mogłam poczuć się tak, jakbym tam była osobiście :))))

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    1. Olla wrote:
      Beautiful Christmas decorations! Magic of colors! Thank you for posting these photographs on the blog. I could feel as if I was there personally :))))

      Coming from you, that is a real compliment! I'm very happy I could share these photos of such magical Christmas scenes with you and the rest of my dolly friends.

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  11. Wow, this was insanely cool! I have visited Paris during the winter holidays and they always deliver, but I haven't seen anything like the underwater exhibition. I'm biased towards the Strasbourg display though. I love how they recreated all those iconic buildings including Maison Kammerzel and the carousel on the side.

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