1. When you live far away from home, the immortal question of the Clash always arises at the holidays: do I stay, or do I go?
When it comes to the Country Boy and me, we’ve come to the decision that we should spend every other Christmas with one another’s family, and this year is a France year. While it’s always tough to spend the holidays away from home (especially when home is New York), Paris has a few things to offer, not the least of which is the tree in front of Notre Dame Cathedral. Sure, it doesn’t rival the one at Rockefeller Center, but it’s beautiful nonetheless.
2. Notre Dame isn’t the only site in Paris that gets all dolled up for the holiday. Pretty much every major street (or every street with a lot of food shops) decorates its trees in garlands of twinkle lights. These ones are just outside the famous Flore, Deux Magots, and Lipp cafés in Saint-Germain.
3. I may not live super centrally, but my local bakery puts on quite a show for the neighborhood, with baubles, lights, and snowflakes projected on the walls of the two buildings overlooking it. It’s tough to see, but there’s even a replica donkey standing on the roof.
4. It’s not all fun and games. We still have crowds to deal with for Christmas shopping – perhaps even more than in some other cities – but there’s something charming about doing your Christmas shopping in the Louvre. (Plus, they install Christmas lights in the shape of the upside down pyramid).
5. I even braved the crowds at the Galeries Lafayette – mostly, I’ll admit, to get a look at the tree, decorated with all sorts of sweets. It’s one of Paris’ best Christmas installations (IMHO), especially in contrast to that beautiful 19th century glass ceiling.