Paris, France
2025 December
Christmas season in Paris? Sounds like a photo op to me.
My escort to O’Hare airport needed a little of grandpa’s warmth
Hailie gave me a cheery sendoff
The newly opened Air France lounge at O’Hare is quite an improvement
Leaving the Chicago skyline behind for a week
More important than the bed linens and amenities was having room to spread out for the night. Thanks, airline miles.
The sun rises over Paris on Monday morning
Finally, a café and a coffee
Behind those doors in the Marais is our home for the week
Our apartment had a collection of interesting artwork
Time to catch up on some sleep...OK, not yet.
The Art Nouveau decor at Samaritane has been lovingly restored
The Art Nouveau rooftop at Samaritane
Champagne display at Samaritane
Off to see some art. Frank Ghery, who designed the Fondation Louis Vuitton museum, passed away the week we were there.
Rooftop at the Vuitton
Gerhard Richter was the artist we came to see.
Yes, the photo is in focus, The painting...not so much.
Dinner on our first night in France is at... “Frenchie”. Seems about right.
The starters were creative.
Beignets stuffed with escargot.
No idea what this was.
Truffles and pasta are always a winner.
Yes, of course this was…..?
It’s duck season.
A brioche just out of the oven.
Refreshing desserts, including a crème caramel and a flower sorbet
Finishing up with a sweet bite.
And a goodbye morsel.
As lovely as it looked, we were able to pass by McDonald’s on the way home without slowing down
Day 2 began with a cappuccino and a croissant before starting our photo workshop.
Photo class began with a crooked doorway
Knock, knock.
Not exactly a warm welcome at the front door.
Another, less threatening, Parisian door.
Stairs to the Seine.
Love locks and pointed protection.
Off-season solitude.
Le Metro.
The welcoming green cross of a pharmacy.
December chairs await your visit.
Street Art.
The steps of Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont from Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris”.
Saint-Étienne-du-Mont interior.
Staircase to the pulpit at Saint-Étienne-du-Mont.
Maybe it’s time to stop for a bite?
Souvenir anyone?
Tai chi in the Luxembourg Gardens.
Le Senat.
Notre Dame cleaned up quite well after the fire.
The interior glowed.
Notre Dame candelabra.
Notre Dame arches and stained glass.
The Rose Window at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame wide shot.
So much brighter than before.
One of the many restored artworks.
Lighting up the interior.
Noon mass at Notre Dame.
The parish receives communion at Notre Dame.
The Last Supper on the choir enclosure.
A little gold to brighten things up.
Side chapel at Notre Dame..
Notre Dame sculpture.
Window detail.
Notre Dame wide shot
The Rose Window and surroundings.
The gift shop seemed oddly situated. Perhaps it's that old "moneychangers in the temple" issue?
Notre Dame decorations.
On to Galleries Lafayette.
Galleries Lafayette window display
More animated window cheer.
Santa and his helpers.
Galleries Lafayette, interior wide shot.
The “tree” animates and sparkles every few minutes..
Throngs of holiday shoppers.
Tuileries Christmas market.
Tuileries Christmas market Ferris wheel.
Napoleon’s tomb at Les Invalides.
Banner at Les Invalides as the sound and light show began.
Light show at Les Invalides.
Light show at Les Invalides.
Light show at Les Invalides.
Light show at Les Invalides.
Light show at Les Invalides.
Wednesday began with an exploration of the Paris covered passageways.
Noir coffee shop in an old passageway.
Coffee shop staircase.
Cappuccino art.
Folies Bergere.
Parisian passageway tile.
Covered passageway of Paris.
Parisian Passageway - Jim.
Parisian Passageway - Panoramas.
Parisian Jouffroy Passageway.
Parisian Passageway - Racine’s restaurant .
Parisian Passageway restaurant
Parisian Passageway chair and tile.
Sacre Couer
Sunny Paris from Montmartre
Sacre Couer tower
Place du Tertre - Montmartre.
Place du Tertre artist.
Place du Tertre artist rolling his own.
Sacre Couer dome.
Place du Tertre artist.
Colorful Montmartre stairs
Montmartre stairs.
Montmartre stairs.
Montmartre stairs and café.
Montmartre stairs.
Metro entrance.
Montmartre sign over a Metri tunnel.
Cocktails at Le Meurice - Bar 228.
Dinner at L’Ambroisie.
Dining room at L’Ambroisie.
Menu at L’Ambroisie,
Starter at L’Ambroisie.
Choices. Choices. Cheese board at L’Ambroisie.
Place des Vosges outside L’Ambroisie.
Starting the day on Thursday by NOT stealing jewels from the Louvre.
Jacques Louis David exhibit at Le Louvre..
Observing French schoolchildren in a museum is fascinating. They always seem to have lots of important and urgent questions.
Jacques Louis David at Le Louvre - The Death of Socrates.
David - Napoleon crossing the Alps
David - Baby pictures.
Jacques Louis David at Le Louvre - Cupid and Psyche.
David - Coronation of Napoleon.
Grand gallery at Le Louvre.
Delacroix- Liberty Leading her People .
Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Mona and her admirers.
She’s there somewhere.
Mona.
Mercury by Giambologna.
La Tour in the winter sun.
Fontaine de la Concorde.
Christmas in Paris.
Cuddly decoration.
Street setting.
City hall is ready for the season.
Pont de la Tournelle is our bridge to dinner at La Tour d'Argent.
La Tour d’Argent has their rooftop bar open for pre-dinner Champagne .
Cheers.
Jim finishing his bubbles..
The beacon welcoming us back to the city of light.
Speed reading the wine list.
Thank goodness the sommelier can help out.
Amuse bouche.
Preparing the duck table side.
Yes, 1582. The restaurant opened here then.
Just bread and butter. But perfect versions of both.
A langostine starter.
Serving course number one of the duck, the breast in blood sauce.
Serving course two of the duck, the leg.
Onto the cheese course with a runny Epoisse.
Each duck served has been numbered since 1890.
Our duck was number 1,202,494
The soufflé - good choice.
And a send-off of sweets.
Late-night walk home after dinner.
Up early on Friday to get ready for our food and wine walking/tasting tour.
Our guide, Antoine, had some terrific stops planned starting at this iconic boulangerie..
The pastries were hard to pass up, but we had a lot of other tastings to follow.
The shop itself was a work of art.
We picked up a few tips and a few crumbs.
Outside, a Parisian sauntered to work.
A little fromage shopping to prepare for lunch.
Then it was time for lunch, including our recently purchased fromage and a wine tasting.
The group left little on their plates.
Finally, Antoine left us with some macarons, a history lesson and a list of shops to try.
Our little tour group hanging out in the Place des Vosges.
Now back to the apartment to pack.
This is a man riding the RER to the airport, contemplating the chaos that awaits at Charles de Gaulle, and then the ride home to a snowy Milwaukee.