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NO WORRIES PARIS

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NO WORRIES PARIS

Tag Archives: Paris Christmas

Paris, the “enLITEnd” city

13 Tuesday Dec 2016

Posted by Trailblazer Travel Books in French holidays, Paris photos, Paris travel, Paris Wandering

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Paris at night, Paris Christmas

 

paris_nasa

It’s December and the City of Light is showing off what it is known for now that the holiday season is in full swing. Taken from the International Space Station (merci NASA), the photo above shows off the brightest boulevard, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, historical axis of the city. The Arc de Triomphe, meeting place of eleven major boulevards, appears as a star at one end. The many forested parks stand out as black polygons.

grandpalaisnight

How did it get it’s nickname? Reason number one:  “La Ville-Lumière” as it was called in the 18th century, was the birthplace of the Age of Enlightenment, famous as a center of education, philosophy and learning  throughout Europe. Reason number two: Paris was one of the first cities to start using street lights during the Great Exhibition of 1889. Having street lights meant people could now do activities after dark that they could not do before. The streets suddenly grew safer. Fast forward to 2016……the tango:

tangoeiffel

A little advice. Sleep in so you can stay up at night, at least until midnight. A whole new sparkly city will emerge, the illuminated monuments almost toylike, cafes: full, flashing taillights wake up the boulevards, and a steady stream of tourist bateaux snake along the Seine. It’s ALIVE!

carrouseldelouvre

louvrepyramidparis

You might find yourself falling in love again. With your partner or if going solo, with this vibrant amazing city.

toureiffelsept2014

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Where to catch the lights of Christmas in Paris

20 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by Trailblazer Travel Books in Paris Wanderings

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Bercy, Champs Elysees, Forum des Halles, Montmartre, Paris Christmas, Paris illuminations, Place Vendome, Rue du Faurbourg Saint Honore

The City of Light has turned on it’s Christmas magic. Luminous arches, multi-colored bulbs, incandescent flames and sparkling projections of light deck out the avenues of the French capital.

christmas paris

Here’s where to find them:

Illuminations de Noël du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré
rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, 8th arr.
Métro Pont-Neuf ou Louvre-Rivoli

Illuminations on the Champs-Elysées
Metro: Etoile
the 200 plane trees along the Champs-Elysées are decorated with light rings and sparkling Christmas lights.

Avenue Montaigne
Metro: Alma Marceau | RER: Pont de l’Alma
Thousands come to Avenue Montaigne at Christmas to kiss under the mistletoe.

Place Vendôme
Metro: Place Vendôme
Place Vendôme, rue de la Paix, rue de Castiglione, rue Saint-Honoré and rue des Capucines are some of the outstanding streets and squares in Paris’ 1er arrondissement.

Forum des Halles
Metro: Les Halles | RER: Châtelet Les Halles
Miguel Chevalier, an avant-gardist in digital art, has created a virtual reality work featuring snowflakes which turn, open out, and change shape on contact with the public.

Montmartre – Upper district
Metro: Anvers (Line 2), Abbesses (Line 12)
Follow the stairs to the top of the village and enjoy the lights of the plaza.

Bercy Village
Metro: Cour Saint-Emilion | Bus: 24, 64, 109, 111
Bercy’s paved streets, which date back to the Middle Ages, are decorated with neon tubes mounted on aluminum structures creating a ceiling of stars and snowflakes illuminating the village in a star-spangled sky.

Most of the lights are turned off after January 5. If time is a factor, consider taking one of the open-top double decker bus tours.

One more thing, remember to put No Worries Paris on your Christmas Wish List.

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Our Bûche de Noël: the party’s over

26 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by Trailblazer Travel Books in Paris Wanderings

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Buche de Noel, No Worries Paris, Paris bakeries, Paris cakes, Paris Christmas, Paris gateau, Paris holiday food, Paris holiday traditions, Paris pastries, Paris patisseries, paris travel

bucheDeNoel

It’s the day after Christmas and all that’s left of our edible creation are crumbs. As most of you know, this traditional gateau is concocted of a sponge roulade filled and iced with buttercream in flavors such as coffee, praline, chocolate, and chestnut. Modeled after the Yule log, the bûche is typically decorated with such embellishments as meringue mushrooms, marzipan holly, stumps whorled in a wood grain pattern, and frosting that’s scored to resemble bark. Ours had a fresh sprig of spruce and candied cranberry. Here’s a little history to enlighten:

Version One: The origin of this French pastry is linked with the ancient Celtic tradition of celebrating the winter solstice. On this shortest day of the year, the Celts would search for a large trunk of oak, beech, elm or cherry, sprinkle it with oil, salt and wine and burn it as a symbol of rebirth of the sun. During the Middle Ages, the ceremony of burning logs became more detailed. The logs themselves would be decorated with ribbons and greenery. Then the youngest and the oldest member of each family would carry the log to the hearth and set it in flames that would burn all night. The ashes would be collected the next day and used throughout the year. It was thought that these logs help cure various sicknesses and protect the house from the wickedness of the evil spirit. With time, the practice changed and people started representing the practice with a log-shaped cake that was served as a dessert to holiday guests.

Version Two: Napoleon Bonaparte issued a proclamation ordering the people of Paris to close their chimneys during winter. It was thought the spread of diseases was due to cold air entering the houses. It was during this time that this yule log cake came to Paris. Since their hearths were in disuse, they needed some sort of traditional symbol that could be enjoyed with family and friends during the festive season. Thus, this cake became a symbolic substitution around which the family could gather for storytelling and other holiday activities.

So there you have it, a little slice of Christmas past. On to the festivities of New Year’s Eve…..more champagne, bring it on.

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