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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2012 22:53:25 GMT
Yes, that is a good price for a return trip to Strasbourg.
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Post by nycgirl on Nov 27, 2012 18:37:06 GMT
This looks like great fun and not oppressively crowded. Looks like you chose the right time to go.
Wish I could have some vin chaud when I go shopping.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 30, 2012 15:02:54 GMT
This year they have put up a Christmas tree at Place de la Concorde instead of in front of Notre Dame (the front of which is cluttered with bleachers and whatnot for their upcoming anniversary celebrations). They have claimed bragging rights as having the tallest Christmas tree in Europe (35 meters) this year. I think it is just plain petty, since I was quite happy with Strasbourg having that title every year with their magnificent tree on Place Kléber. It is not ready yet, so I will have to return. I suspect the workers of "enhancing" the branches before the next step, perhaps even adding some.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 30, 2012 17:40:16 GMT
That's quite some tree Kerouac! I would have it a guess that it could easily take up the entire length of a 747 minus the seats, so would compare with the one flown in from Sweden for the Hilton hotel atrium in Singapore! looking forward to seeing it lit up in all it's glory
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2012 16:25:40 GMT
I am pleased to say that I am not the only person who was displeased by the commercial turn of the Christmas windows. Even the nightly news has interviewed passerby who are wondering what happened to Christmas being for children instead of pandering to Chinese and Russian tourists, who are the biggest spenders in these stores -- about 4000€ per person. They are going to spend that money anyway, whether or not penguins are dancing with the handbags.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2012 16:33:32 GMT
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Post by mossie on Dec 2, 2012 20:40:09 GMT
At least they seem to have improved the lights on the trees down the Champs Elysee, I was disappointed with the hula hoops last year. However I agree about the windows, a great shame because the children loved them.
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Post by lagatta on Dec 3, 2012 2:37:38 GMT
The Barbie thing is beyond vulgar.
One of the more upscale department stores here, Ogilvy, still has a very retro window with moving Steiff animal characters, that continues to attract new generations fo families.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2012 7:41:02 GMT
Frankly, I find a billboard for Barbie at Christmas much less inappropriate than all of the luxury leather goods, particularly during economic hard times. I have not taken many photos yet of the "ordinary" streets, but I enjoy seeing the effort that the local merchants association has made in each area -- sometimes with help from city hall, which finances the decoration in at least one street per arrondissement.
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Post by lola on Dec 3, 2012 18:53:47 GMT
Nice, K2.
I suppose children could ignore the ridiculously overpriced leather goods and concentrate on the penguins. That's what I intend to do, anyway. None of those stores will get my 4,000 euro allowance for gloves and handkerchieves this year, and may it be a lesson to them. (Where are the grimly dressed commies of yesterday?)
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Post by bjd on Dec 3, 2012 19:30:56 GMT
Are these Christmas lights in the streets a recent thing, Kerouac? I mean, since you have been in France.
I have noticed here that a few people have started putting lights up on their houses -- that was not done before as far as I remember. We have a few lights on the main street in the place I live, and lights in downtown Toulouse but not too much elsewhere. I was just wondering whether the decoration thing was becoming more popular.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2012 19:37:08 GMT
The Christmas lights have become much more prevalent since the availability of all of the low wattage minature lights.
A few years ago when driving along the eastern border in December, partly in Germany and partly in France, I saw that quite a few houses had lights on them, which is something that you never see in the Paris metropolitan area. However, in Paris, you will find a few window or balcony displays with twinkling lights. I haven't seen any yet this year, but normally I will be able to see about 5 or 6 of them out my window by the end of the month.
I would love to see some Gangnam Style displays, though.
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Post by lagatta on Dec 3, 2012 23:34:42 GMT
I always found the lack of Christmas lights on houses in France a welcome relief!
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Post by mossie on Dec 7, 2012 15:33:05 GMT
Here is a super image I've pinched from Eric Tenin's super blog Paris daily photo tiny.cc/iddyow
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2012 15:57:28 GMT
That's a great picture and it reminded me that I have been remiss in posting some of the photos that I already took weeks ago.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2012 11:37:24 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 11, 2012 18:55:43 GMT
This is SUCH a great thread. I was in raptures over the La Defense pictures, then peaked again over the blue ones in #44. Well, all of them in that group are exquisite. I could smell & hear the sausages sizzling in that fabulous food porn pic. Can't wait to see what else you find during this season. I have noticed here that a few people have started putting lights up on their houses -- that was not done before as far as I remember. We have a few lights on the main street in the place I live, and lights in downtown Toulouse but not too much elsewhere. I was just wondering whether the decoration thing was becoming more popular. It's very uncommon here. When I was in the US for Thanksgiving this year, there were a few houses in my mother's neighborhood that already had their lights up. The innocent wonder of seeing a regular house transformed at night never dies for me.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 12:44:22 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 12:48:21 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 12:53:55 GMT
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Post by mossie on Dec 12, 2012 16:43:00 GMT
Superb Kerouac. I hope your shutter finger is not too numb. We had -5 here last night (22F)
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Post by Kimby on Dec 12, 2012 17:14:40 GMT
So many beautiful images, K2, but this one took my breath away:
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Post by tod2 on Dec 12, 2012 17:26:48 GMT
You took me to an entirely different world - the Montmartre I know looks so different. I feel quite jealous of the surreal atmosphere you have captured under the blue blaze of twinkling lights. Some of the narrow streets look positively 'spooky'! To see the trees in Place Du Tetre looking as bare as anything was an eye-opener - I have only seen them in full leaf forming a green canopy over the tables.
Thank you for braving the cold( at what trime of night?) and giving us an lovely Xmas tour of Montmartre!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2012 17:43:37 GMT
This was just past 9 pm!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2012 21:31:55 GMT
I still have not seen this tree at night!
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Post by lagatta on Dec 19, 2012 11:17:00 GMT
Where is that? Les Champs?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2012 15:28:24 GMT
Place de la Concorde
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Post by lugg on Dec 20, 2012 7:32:25 GMT
Fabulous thread - thank you K2 . the gangham style lights video made me smile despite my complete aversion to the music. I will post a spoof lights video elsewhere so as not to interrupt this thread
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2012 0:41:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2012 0:51:38 GMT
The sponsorship of the tree by Nickelodeon went far beyond annoying, so I hope they will have learned their lesson this year and won't make the same mistake next year. Here is the little video of the Bon Marché animations and a tiny bit of Place de la Concorde.
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