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Post by Deleted on Nov 17, 2012 16:09:58 GMT
Anybody who passes through Paris this year during the Christmas season is invited to add their photos or videos to this thread.
For the moment, I will just start off with this little video of the department store windows on Boulevard Haussmann. Frankly, I think they are a bit disappointing because Louis Vuitton took over the Galeries Lafayette windows and Dior took over the Printemps windows. Okay, I'm sure they paid for the animations, but these windows used to be about toys, not luxury goods.
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Post by mossie on Nov 17, 2012 19:25:20 GMT
I feel a trip to Paris coming on, but no. That won't be till the weather picks up in the spring That window display definitely not for the kiddiewinks. What on earth ARE those animals doing with those dancers at 2.10 onwards.
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Post by nycgirl on Nov 18, 2012 17:45:53 GMT
You're video is blocked for me on copyright grounds. Grrr.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2012 18:22:26 GMT
Yes, I have already been informed. I will try to post a silent version imminently. The problem is because the original video sounded mostly like traffic noise, so I overlaid it with copyrighted music, even though I knew the risk.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 18, 2012 21:49:11 GMT
Here is the video again without the inadmissible copyright infringement:
(The music you are missing is from the sountrack of Amélie.)
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Post by mich64 on Nov 18, 2012 23:05:30 GMT
For myself, the Dior windows are more enjoyable than the Louis Vuitton displays. I did not enjoy the polar bear wearing the bag and scarf. The skating and carousel theme of the Dior display is lovely but more for the adult as well. I understand how this is dissapointing. The average person is not expecting anything from Dior or Louis Vuitton wrapped under their tree, especially a child. Nothing there for them to dream about. Beautiful yes, seasonal, no. But I would still love to be there to see them in person.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2012 18:43:04 GMT
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Post by lola on Nov 19, 2012 21:13:43 GMT
Stunning Gal Lafayette tree. The windows are fun, K. Thank you.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 22, 2012 12:44:37 GMT
I'm watching the Christmas window displays again....the first time I got it perfectly with the music and I never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity of the little characters and their individual (so human!) actions! Now I watch but it's not the same. Still very beautiful but the music just made it all come alive so much more So, I went back to your first video clip and am pleased that it works beautifully with music! What's with the 'blue' theme in Christmas trees?? Must be because green, red and white are sooooooo passe` ;D
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2012 13:17:51 GMT
You're right -- everything seems to be mostly blue here, but that might just be because it is the most common colour for LEDs (?) .
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2012 15:00:10 GMT
I like the blue. It's so tiring to have the same old white/silver trees displayed everywhere. Paris at Christmas time must be just magical.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2012 17:31:27 GMT
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Post by lola on Nov 22, 2012 17:45:21 GMT
Fun, K. Thank you.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 22, 2012 18:05:41 GMT
Oh how beautiful! I tried to watch on the full screen mode but everything got "furry" but these photos are absolutely wonderful The Dior hot air baloon ladies had me amused - the one looking through her binocs was priceless. I have to watch the whole thing again and again to scrutinize the costumes...aren't they just fab?!!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2012 18:12:24 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2012 21:10:27 GMT
I was at La Défense this morning and couldn't help noticing some of the Christmas stuff there, but it was also clear that I will have to go there after dark one of these days to get the proper experience.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2012 21:16:36 GMT
Yes, I'll have to go back. Maybe without the rain.
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Post by lola on Nov 23, 2012 23:13:16 GMT
Wonderful, K. Thank you.
Is Biere de Noel any good? Do you have a favorite Christmas Market, or would that be telling?
We Skyped our daughter in Gap this morning, talking about the onset/onslaught of Christmas here after Thanksgiving. Speculating on how the rest of the world knows when to kick off the Holiday Season. They have lights up in Gap now, but haven't turned them on.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2012 20:51:11 GMT
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Post by htmb on Nov 24, 2012 22:02:04 GMT
That's a beautiful photograph of the ferris wheel.
I don't know what it is about matryoshka dolls, but they've fascinated me since I was a little girl. Nice photos, k.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2012 11:59:35 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Nov 25, 2012 13:52:52 GMT
Thank you for the wonderful photos taken of the Christmas lights and market up in La Defense! I felt a tug at my heart strings when I saw them, wishing I had thought about spending the bucks on an airticket for just 10 days or so, because my visa is still valid until December 31st.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2012 16:42:19 GMT
Thanks, tod. Here is a video from the Champs Elysées at 6 p.m. yesterday. Remember that we are still a month from Christmas, so the crowds will continue to grow -- not to mention the fact that 6 p.m. is not the most crowded time of day to visit, albeit on a Saturday.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2012 17:01:19 GMT
Is Biere de Noel any good? Do you have a favorite Christmas Market, or would that be telling? Bière de Noël is basically just ordinary beer with a slight addition of caramel to make it a bit darker and sweeter. It makes a good seasonal novelty but it is almost certainly something that people would not necessarily want to be marketed all year long. The Champs Elysées and the La Défense Christmas markets are the biggest ones in the region. La Défense has the advantage of the esplanade which puts all of the market together in one place. The Champs Elysées market is split on both sides of the avenue, and I can assure you that once you have "done" one side, you have absolutely no desire to cross the street to see the other side -- I am 99% certain that it would basically be all of the same things all over again. One good thing about the Champs Elysées market is that authentic artisans have extremely preferential rental rates while the big commercial stands (also known as "Chinese junk") have to pay a bundle to get a stand. The importance of this sort of discrimination became apparent when I strolled through the La Défense market. It seemed to me that even somebody selling vacuum cleaners could probably get a stand there. If I had my druthers, I would say you must absolutely go to Strasbourg for the Christmas market (which opened just yesterday) to see an event more focused and authentic. Strasbourg has limited the market to a total of 300 stands spread across the city (even though they have more than 1000 applications), and they must all be related to Christmas. Naturally, I suddenly found myself with an urge to go there, but a quick check of train fares and hotels calmed me down immediately -- this sort of visit must be planned at least 4 months in advance.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 25, 2012 18:43:29 GMT
Oh drat, I was hoping you'd go to the Strasbourg Christmas Market.
Hey, they are CHRISTMAS vacuum cleaners...
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Post by Deleted on Nov 25, 2012 18:54:53 GMT
Well, I do have pictures of it somewhere... but not yet posted here.
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Post by lola on Nov 25, 2012 19:35:19 GMT
I'm disappointed to learn that the best Parisian Christmas Market is in Strasbourg, but will make do with whatever one we stumble upon. The one in front on Notre Dame is supposed to last until the evening we hit town, I think.
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Post by htmb on Nov 26, 2012 3:52:01 GMT
Kerouac, I really enjoyed watching the video you made of the Champs Élysées. Could you tell me what is being served out of the big kettles in response #20 above? I thought it was popcorn, but after watching the video I'm not so sure.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2012 7:12:42 GMT
It is tartiflette, an excellent cold weather dish, although I find the concept of eating it while walking around to be more than questionable.
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Post by yymca6 on Nov 26, 2012 22:13:55 GMT
When train fares sale opened in October we managed to get return TGV tickets at 70euros per person ( and the return is in 1st class). We thought this price was OK at the time (especially since we don't sleep over in Strasbourg). Of course they are PREM tickets.
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