It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas in Paris
Bonjour,
When you don’t receive a blog from us, it’s because it’s rained all day the previous day or we’ve done laundry all day or some of both. Monday was that kind of day, but we’ve had two days since that were wonderful. We’ve been out enjoying the better weather, but shifting our emphasis to after 5pm to catch the lights of Christmas after dark.
Today the lights are turned on along the Champs at 5pm and we will be there! This year they will be red.
Yesterday, we went to an area that we’re not very familiar with around St. Denis/Sebastopol/Saint Martin to a restaurant called Bouillon Julien which was on my list of things to do for 2019. It kept showing up on various web sites I follow, and now I can see why. It’s a Belle Époque style established in 1901 and is lovely on the inside. Here’s their slogan:
Translated the first line means “Here, everything is pretty, delicious, but not expensive.” Put this one on your list. When we entered at noon, it was totally empty. Notice the photo as we were leaving. Don’t be put off by the neighborhood, very working class area not at all like the Marais.
Arch of Saint Denis, the patron saint of Paris
Section of the tiled floor
The toilette or Lavabo
The beautiful bar made of wood imported from Cuba
Historic cash register
We strolled the area toward the food street (as we call it) Montorgueil which has Future apartment potential and captured some light photos. Walked a LONG way, Tim & Paula…Bob & Cindi…Charles & Judy. You should have been with us!
Shadows
Beautiful door
We ended up around the Les Halles area with the modern canopy where there are Christmas chalets and decorations. We returned to this area after dark to take the contrasting photos. The light sprayed on St. Eustache church is the BEST of the light photos taken from Bernie’s camera and is featured up top.
One of the shops had this LEGO display of Notre Dame
Small Christmas trees for sale for small apartments!
Bernie caught this shot of the birds
This grill work and lattice used to be how Les Halles looked
Christmas stalls
Les Forum de Halles
Huge Christmas tree decoration which changes its light patterns. I believe Bernie caught all the versions!
Montorgueil after dark
Even the McDonald’s was aglow
Enjoy Christmas in Paris!
L & B
Fab photos! One of the reasons I love Paris this time of year is the City of Light lights up earlier 🙂
Hope you enjoy this evening on the Champs (maybe dinner & view at Renault!?which is now on our list for a Champs respite thanks to you!).
Yay for the sunshine and merci for your fun posts. LOVE your blog 💟
We love the sunshine too!!! Merci
These are great! Really want to visit that restaurant.
Absolutely, it’s really lovely. Reminds me of La Fermette Marbeuf before it closed.
Would love to have been with you on that walk even though I can’t keep up with you two. In one picture, Bernie looks like a true street photographer.
Funny that you should make that comment, Charles. He was called down at the big canopy by someone who mistook him for a true photographer. Said he had to have permission! Thank goodness, he had already gotten the big Christmas tree in all of its various iterations.
Neat. I could tell he has the air of a serious photographer these day. No more laid back “snap-shooting.” This is art!
Beautiful and festive!
Beautiful, Linda! The picture of the grille work at the old Les Halles is the way it was when I first visited the market there.
Yes, and I loved it! It took them at least five years to put up this new monstrosity, maybe longer. I don’t like it!!
Lovely pics of the City of Light gearing up for the Christmas holiday season. So happy that we all get to tag along!!!!!!!
Merci, my friend. Wish you all were here!
Yes, wish we’d been there, too. Love to walk off a meal.
Absolutely in love with Paris at Christmas. Our Christkindlmarket will be on the square this year, closest to what I’m seeing your pics. It’s the weekend you return.
How many years has this been in Hsv? I’ve never known about it!
This will be third year. Last year it was at Davidson.
Love the Christmas tree photos, the lights are beautiful and the lego church is amazing. Wonder how long that took. Thanks Linda for sharing everything
You ain’t seen nothing yet!! Glad you are enjoying.
These photos were worth the wait! The restaurant is fabulous but the Christmas light photos speaks to my love of all thing Christmas,
We arrive a week from today! So excited! Your blog, and book have been so helpful in our planning.
Let me know when you arrive. Perhaps we can share a meal together!
Would love that!
We thought we walked all over Paris!! Ha… just have to go back and see MORE!
Loved the pics
Magnificent day and night!
This is a lovely post! So glad Les Halles is decorated for the holidays! We must try that restaurant. It looks like a beautiful example of Art Nouveau decorations and architecture.
Frenchie’s today for lunch!! First time.