My Christmas treat to myself

[mossie]

Returning from my last trip I realised that I had coped quite well, so decided that, while I was still just able, that I would return to wander past the Christmas window displays of the Grands Magasins.

So here goes, trusting that I do not tread too heavily on Kerouac's toes.

I did not need to travel as far as Av Haussmann to find Christmas, just stepping outside my hotel door the window of the restaurant downstairs was fully decorated. The manager was busily warming up his staff to their duties.



And walking to the top of the avenue the Mairie of the 19th had also been illuminated although there were no lights across the avenue itself this year



A drink at the bar across the road produced this appropriately dressed serveuse



To get to Galeries Lafayette I normally walk by the Bassin de la Villette and across to the metro at Riquet, as that line goes via Galeries Lafayette. One of the cruise boats was resting for the night



and here is the little floating theatre Adelaide, although I took the snap to show there was still a little colour in the trees



Tied up nearby was this entertainment boat



with explanatory poster



damn all to do with Christmas lights, do get on with it. So I surfaced from line 7 outside G L.



Where the pavement was heaving with eager kids and protective parents.



While inside the store, on the children's floor, Father Christmas was waiting to welcome everyone



And smart salesladies were waiting to feed the tills



All dominated by the monstrous Christmas tree with its attendant mobiles



That's enough for now, but I give due warning that there will be more

[bixaorellana]

Love it, Mossie! It's a constant source of amazement and pleasure to see how different people can cover the same theme, but show entirely different results. You know I am a big fan of your photographs, and it's fun to see you turn your camera on this subject. The floating theater shot is beautifully subtle and that Santa Claus picture is a delight of color and composition. Very much looking forward to more!

[breeze]

This is fun for us stay-at-homes. Your photos gave us the slow buildup, day and night, the outdoors, boats on the Seine, the smiling barmaid (you must have bags of charm because they all smile at you, Mossie), the throngs, the child, the blase Santa, and then the fabulous shining tree.

We have nothing like this in our neck of the woods. A long way from Paris, here.

I'm ready for more! Maybe it's time to put on some Christmas music, after my nap.

[cheerypeabrain]

Excellent images Mossie. X

[Deleted]

Ditto what Breeze posted regarding your "bags of charm"to behold such a pose from the barmaid.
Not being a Christmas person at all I do however understand the holiday to be for children.
Sorry Breeze but, the thought of intentionally putting on Christmas music makes me shudder...

[kerouac2]

I can't wait to see the rest, Mossie, and I'm sorry that I missed you this time with my departure for Lille.

I still plan to go back to "the windows" for my annual video, but time is already running out!

[lagatta]

Casimira, I'm also not at all a Christmas person, though of course I like to get together with friends. The enforced glee makes me very sad.

Mossie, when I stayed in that part of Paris at least twice a year, there were no Christmas decorations in the 19th and the non-touristy parts of the 18th, except for a few discreet clear lights to lift the winter gloom. Now there are those weird villages composed of a gaudy fantasy of Olde and New England with no pond in-between. While certainly no mere lass, I'm younger than you; however one of my Parisian friends is over 90 and another well into her 80s. He and she are valuable historical relics, but also dear friends I'll miss. He lives in the 20th now and was in a maquis in Normandy as a very young man. She lives in the 13th or 14th (forget which, but near the boundary) and her Italian-Jewish family sought refuge in the home country, and lived there in relative safety due to a sympathetic (and probably somewhat corruptable) fascist functionary who delivered the family a certificate of Aryanity. He is a published author (not about the War) and she was a professor of Italian language and literature who also gave language lessons in French prisons - when she was not much more than a mere lass and the prisoners were very happy to see a pretty little redhead.

Does the little bar with the wry serveuse serve burgers? I rarely like those, but here I've had burgers here with bison, or caribou. Served fairly plain - one doesn't want to drown those good meats with too many trimmings.

[breeze]

Casimira, I think you might like the CD I played. It's sung in Breton and I don't think any of the melodies was familiar the first time I heard the CD, so it wouldn't seem Christmassy the first time you hear it.

The choir is the Ensemble Choral du Bout du Monde (end of the world). The first song is Joyful Mysteries.

[breeze]

Mossie, sorry to hijack your thread, and Casimira, I didn't realize this video would have so many religious images. Maybe I should have stuck to Grandma got run over by a reindeer.

[lagatta]

I'm not interested in Abrahamic monotheistic religious stuff, but there is a lot of syncretism with earlier Celtic beliefs in that Breton imagery.

[bjd]

Not just the barmaid, I like the look on the face of the guy looking at Mossie taking the picture.

I wouldn't mind "Christmas music" so much if it was more varied and more religious. But the endless loops of Jingle Bells and I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas in N America and Petit Papa Noël in France drive me crazy. In any case, I avoid shops at this time of year as much as possible.

[mickthecactus]

Dec 6, 2017 21:57:34 GMT casimira said:

Ditto what Breeze posted regarding your "bags of charm"to behold such a pose from the barmaid.
Not being a Christmas person at all I do however understand the holiday to be for children.
Sorry Breeze but, the thought of intentionally putting on Christmas music makes me shudder...

I'm with you Casi, oh how I'm with you..........

Bah humbug.

[mickthecactus]

Great pictures Mossie.

[mossie]

Many thanks for all the comments. Yes burgers are unfortunately making an appearance on some menus, although that cafe wasn't too bad. However it closed for refurbishment while I was there so I worry what will spring up in its place. I am already shunning a previous favourite as that too, has fallen for the bloody burger.

Now for much pleasanter topics, several people made play with my little barmaid picture. Just remember the old saying; "Flattery will get you everywhere". Also do not forget that I had an excellent mentor; Polish pilots were renowned for their charm, which could remove knickers at 40 paces.

Remembering all this as I was making my way through the crowds along the windows, I was suddenly confronted with this



But stop flanneling and get on to the windows. Presents for everyone



But some is still blatant merchandising



but this is nearer to what ought to be the target audience, kids



and show a lot of work has gone into creating these fantasies



There is external prettying up as well



which has been rewarded with crowds all flocking to spend



How much is that doggie in the window?



But I was beginning to feel as if I had been shot out of a cannon



So returned to safer ground to eat, and caught this little madam using her fingers without rebuke from grandma? who was looking after her



Another evening took a stroll along the other end of the Grands Boulevards, admiring the monuments to past battles and history





To end up at Republique to catch the metro home



Got to sort the washing machine out now, brace yourselves for more later

[lagatta]

Found a photo report about those daring, charming Polish pilots in the RAF...
mashable.com/2016/07/02/polish-airmen/#.P68iFN8omqc There are of course many reports with more written content. I remember them receiving special honours during the 50th anniversary of D-Day; fortunately many were still alive at the time.

[bjd]

Interesting link and pictures, Lagatta, but the Brits wouldn't let the Polish airmen fly at first. Only after they started losing too many British pilots.

And the special honours 50 years later (I don't think it was after D-Day but after the end of the war) was British recognition that Poles had contributed greatly to victory in WW2. In 1945 Stalin was opposed to their participation and Churchill caved in.

I'm am glad that you have good memories of the Polish airmen, Mossie.

[Deleted]

Likewise, I am beaming with Polish pride here although, because all the eligible soldiers on both sides of my family were farmers, few if any served.

Re the music, I love liturgical music of almost any nature (mostly sung in Latin) and did sing in the church choir in my formative years. Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve was always very special.

As an aside, I think that may be a fox in the window instead of a dog Mossie. But, you know those French, they come up with all kinds of weird breeds.

[mossie]

Thanks for the link Lagatta, I flew with several Poles during my service, all good pilots. Churchill had a big problem, Uncle Joe had been regarded as a big hero and much praised by our papers so to fall out then was impossible. Rather cowardly but pragmatic. Likewise Bomber Command were rather pushed into the background and not given the honour they richly deserved because of the wholesale destruction caused to the German cities. It was conveniently forgotten that Germany had started the wholesale bombing of civilians during WW1, first from their Zeppelin airships and then from purpose built Gotha bombers. They then continued the tactic in WW2 with Heinkels, Dorniers and Junkers, so they richly deserved every bomb which fell on the third Reich. I still remember hearing the stick of bombs whistling over our roof one Sunday afternoon in 1940, and the blasts that followed.

Casi, I also felt that might be a fox, but the words of the old song fitted the shot, and anyway all sorts of odd crossbreeds are appearing in Doggieland.

[lagatta]

As I said, there are several other links easy to google simply via Polish pilots RAF or some variant thereof.

As for doggies, I thought the photo of the gallant Polish pilots with several small dogs was over-the-top chick magnet...

[mossie]

On the Sunday I thought about going to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. However it was a very damp drizzly morning when I got there and there was quite a queue for tickets , so I chickened out and just took a look instead.



and then took a stroll down the Champs



Taking care to keep well away from any danger from falling glass. Some architects do have some strange ideas



I called into a cafe for a coffee to discover these very smart Japanese?



Before going to check out Peugots latest concept car.



Not for me, but it might interest my youngest son, although I snapped this one as being more appropriate just to wind him up



There are plenty of other posh shopping possibilities



But I was attracted to the sound of music coming from the street



This South American type band were strung out right across the dual carriageway, which incidentally was closed throughout its length, with security checks on everyone entering



I don't suppose a more perfect busking site exists



More fancy shops



But here is decoration in the grand manner



Guarded by this frightening apparition. Not something to meet in a dark alley, but the notice says "Do not touch". As if I would dare



Now a complete change of venue, from the sublime to the ridiculous. I can't miss visiting Belleville and this cafe is a well known and used one



With the most marvellous ceiling



always busy



I walked up to see the latest art in rue Desnoyez, but found that the long heralded reconstruction had well and truly started





But a doorway had one extremely powerful image



And there I said "Goodbye" to Desnoyez

[kerouac2]

You were lucky to see the Champs Elysées on the first Sunday of the month when it is closed to traffic!

I havzn't been to rue Dénoyez for many months, so your photo of its current condition is a shock.

[bixaorellana]

Oh wonderful, Mossie! I think #19 is my favorite set yet -- your photographic skills really superseded the ugly weather. I absolutely love that first shot of Belleville.

[lugg]

Not only a treat for yourself but for me too. Thank you

[onlyMark]

Dec 7, 2017 1:25:59 GMT lagatta said:

I'm not interested in Abrahamic monotheistic religious stuff, but there is a lot of syncretism with earlier Celtic beliefs in that Breton imagery.

*runs off to find a dictionary*

[mickthecactus]

Did you learn nothing at theological college?

[onlyMark]

No, but I watched The Life of Brian once.
Does that count?

[mickthecactus]

Dec 9, 2017 7:47:46 GMT onlyMark said:

No, but I watched The Life of Brian once.
Does that count?

Close enough.