A Forever Memory in Paris on the Champs Elysees
Bonjour mes amis,
As we approach Thanksgiving, it is appropriate to mention how blessed Bernie and I feel to have shared sixteen years together in Paris. Our relationship has grown up here, matured, endured, suffered hardship and joy. If you’ve been following us for a while, you know that all has not been roses! We have enough memories and photos and stories to fill anyone’s treasure chest. But there are a few memories that will live forever. They pop out in our minds like freckles on a sunny day…moments like the first fireworks at the Eiffel Tower on Bastille Day, or the first viewing of Le Tour de France in person, the first mass at Notre Dame, the first meal at Le Train Bleu, or the first climb to Montmartre. The superlatives aren’t ever enough to capture the warmth of feeling. Our hearts know the intensity and that’s sufficient.
Now we have another…the illumination of Christmas lights on Les Champs Elysées. It was set to happen at exactly 6pm, actually it was a few minutes late (6:08) which only added to the excitement. Sunday was a pedestrian day so no traffic and the ability to stand in the middle of the avenue. The pressure was on Bernie to capture the moment, holding his camera high over his head and using his view finder…waiting and waiting and waiting. The crowd was jostling us, the cobblestones were uneven, as he was trying to keep a steady hand. There was no time to adjust, to make it perfect, to use a tripod. Terribly difficult, and if you’re a photographer, you can relate. My iPhone was in my pocket basically useless to capture the grandeur because I’m just too darn short. I think Bernie did a magnificent job! I think you will agree.
We were so smart to book a reservation for dinner at the Renault café because of the crowds of people. It was beautifully decorated in traditional moments from the past. 
Dinner was perfect…relatively quiet, roomy with good food and good prices. And it allowed time for the mobs on the subway to clear a little. We walked all the way down to Clemenceau at Le Grand Palais. It was a fantastic experience. We were exhausted when we got in about 8:30 but so worth it!
We arrived on Les Champs about 3pm and started by investigating the L’Hotel Georges Cinq to see what amazing displays they might have for Christmas. To our surprise, it was not flowers but beautiful decorations.
Before that we visited the Memorial de la Shoal, the Holocaust Memorial Museum of Paris, but we’ll save that for another post.
We love all your comments, and each is appreciated and read even though I don’t always have time to respond. Merci mille fois!
À bientôt
L & B
November 25, 2019 @ 10:26 am
I feel as though we were there. Thank you so much!
November 25, 2019 @ 10:51 am
Absolutely gorgeous gorgeous merci beacoup Linda and Bernie it was absolutely gorgeous!!!!
November 25, 2019 @ 12:02 pm
Linda and Bernie, once again you have captured the magic of Paris with your beautiful words and photos.
That header photo Is stunning!! and the best I’ve seen this morning including ones posted on official Paris websites — definitely a magnificent job. Well done on pre-booking dinner, too — you guys never fail to inspire.
Thrilled you had such a memorable experience and hope your ‘morning after’ isn’t too loaded with laundry 🙂
November 25, 2019 @ 12:11 pm
I feel like I was there. Well done.
November 25, 2019 @ 12:15 pm
A life lesson: we walk long miles, we get jostled, we have to share space, but then, wow! Sometimes something marvelous happens.
Thanks for sharing with us every day in your Paris.
November 25, 2019 @ 2:42 pm
Thanks, Monica, still loving the picture you drew of that Joseph’s coat of many colors!!
November 25, 2019 @ 12:53 pm
I love your build up to the lighting on the Champs! The photos were beautiful. I was especially enthralled with the decorations at the Georges Cinc. Stunning displays, I love the picture of you and Bernie there.
November 25, 2019 @ 2:19 pm
We liked it as well! The bellman volunteered to take it!
November 25, 2019 @ 1:00 pm
Great job with the photos, Bernie. Such a beautiful scene.
November 25, 2019 @ 1:04 pm
Beautiful pictures! Merci beaucoup!
November 25, 2019 @ 2:22 pm
So beautiful and meaningful. Brings joy to my heart and tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing! Your daily blogs must be so much work, but I hope you know how appreciated they are!
November 25, 2019 @ 2:40 pm
Thanks for your kind words! The blog is a lot of work, but I enjoy it or I wouldn’t go it!
November 25, 2019 @ 3:08 pm
What an amazing Christmas display at the George V! So impressive. As always thank you for sharing your Paris adventures. The lights on the Champs are beautiful but I never knew it was such an event when they switched them on.
November 25, 2019 @ 3:20 pm
What a wonderful experience you will treasure forever! Thanks for sharing these terrific pictures with us along with your personal comments that make this blog so rich and meaningful. We are planning our trip there in April to include a full Sunday for the pedestrian Champs, Bastille market, and artists at Montmartre based on your descriptions. Happy Thanskgiving to both of you!
November 25, 2019 @ 5:20 pm
Parisians find so many ways to have fun. Glad you’re there with them. You work well as a team.
November 25, 2019 @ 5:52 pm
Spectacular. Thanks for taking us along. I’m sure we get heavy at times.
November 25, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
Linda & Bernie; I too have enjoyed the photography and your narrative. I’ve gotten use to the first thing I look for on the computer in the morning is the blog to enjoy with my first sips of coffee. These past months have been a great journey for me and obviously many others of your friends and family.
Truly the two of you have captured in pictures and words the “City of Lights”.
Have a great Thanksgiving Parisian style.
November 25, 2019 @ 11:20 pm
Great pictures and memories! Makes all the rainy days worth it. Happy Thanksgiving and see you both soon.
November 26, 2019 @ 5:15 am
Travel safely, son, over the holiday and give everyone our love.