Christmas in Paris

Each time I’ve been to Paris, it’s been during a different time of year.  I’ve experienced rainy April days, the tourist swam and local flight of August, chilly October nights, near-perfection in June, and the freezing temperatures and soldes of January. On this trip, my sixth, I visited in December — and got to experience Christmas in Paris for the first time. What can I say about this city?  It was made for Christmas. I strolled the Champs-Elysees to check out the window displays, but for me, the real surprise was at the end, towards Place de la Concorde.  During December, this is home to a Christmas market! And this is one of several.  There are markets in Montmartre and Trocadéro (though the latter is one I’d skip), and an excellent one at La Défense that I unfortunately didn’t get to see. Other places were more understated in their Christmas decor — like Hemingway’s beloved Cafe des Deux Magots in Saint-Germain. Of all the neighborhoods decked out for Christmas, none did lights better than Montmartre. Place du Tertre — filled with artists during the day, and lit up beautifully at night. The Sacre-Coeur, as majestic as always — now with a hot wine vendor underneath! I love how virtually all Paris cafes have heaters for their outdoor seating — sitting outside is a year-round activity! And one of my absolute favorite photos of the year — Place du Tertre, lit up for Christmas, every shade of the rainbow represented. Visiting Paris at Christmas was a most delightful surprise — and I highly recommend a visit during this beautiful time of year.

Which photo is your favorite?

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