Saturday, December 21

We're feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep. The comfortable beds and the beautiful linens provided by Paris Perfect certainly helped, although the fact that we were exhausted and could barely hold our heads up during dinner was certainly a factor also.

After a hearty breakfast of French coffee and corn flakes(?), we were off to the huge market that runs half the length of President Wilson Avenue. I mentioned this market in the September blog. The area is quite upscale and the merchants cater to this clientele. It has everything from fresh fish (of every variety including urchins, mussels, lobster, and the largest flounder we've seen in a long time); meat and fowl (again everything your most complete cookbook could desire), fruits, vegetables, clothes, housewares, flowers, etc. Of course, being the last Saturday before Christmas, each stall was packed to the gills, and the buyers were loading up their pullcarts while dragging their little doggies in gaily-colored sweaters along behind. After we passed the last stall, I was reminded of Travel Rule #4--"If you see it and you like it, buy it right then." I confess that I dragged Lloyd to the market this morning because when we were there in September, I saw some beautiful quilted place mats. I didn't buy them then. I thought I would see them again this morning, but no-o-o! Everything from tablecoths to napkins to dish towels and aprons, etc. But no placemats. Oh, well....maybe next time!?

                                           One of the few un-crowded sections of the market

From there we caught a bus (Lloyd has become an expert on the many local bus schedules) to run over to another part of town where two of the largest department stores in Paris have decorated their windows and every display area inside. Why, oh, why did we pick the Saturday before Christmas--the day after every school in the entire country has started their holiday break!! Was it crowded?? Of course, but it was also fun to see children of every size and color squealing with joy at the animated figures. Even the stodgiest Scrooge would have had to smile at the scene.

                                           Here is just one of the many videos we captured

As we were exploring near the Opera and the department stores, we walked into an Apple store to check out the scene. As expected, it was enormous; it was beautiful; and it was packed, packed, packed with holiday shoppers. The store "geniuses" were clothed in the familiar red shirt, but adorned with a Santa hat--each one looking oh-so French!

                                       This "Apple genius" had his Santa hat in his back pocket.

I had read recently that an often-overlooked highlight of visiting Paris is the panorama from the observation deck at Printemps department store. Unfortunately the day was rather cloudy but you can get an idea of how far and wide you can see from up there.

                                                Of course, you can see the Eiffel Tower

                                                The dome of Sacre Coeur in the distance

                                               Closer rooftops from the top of Printemps

And I forgot to mention that at the Galleries Lafayette, besides the gorgeous animated window decorations, the entire store was decorated from the first floor all the way to Art Deco ceiling. Even in a video, pictures don't do it justice. It was breath-taking, for me at least.

        Yes, this is a decorated trees and people are standing on the overlooks admiring it and taking pictures.

I think I will end this part of the day--the blog, with the video and pictures, may be getting too long to load. So I will start a second entry with more window animation, Christmas decorations, and videos of the lights on the Champs Elysees.