Fun report, Fabulous. You make it come alive. I would love to see a photo of the snow princess if that's possible.

What a wonderful, soulful trip report.

Thank you.

I am loving your report.

wow, thanks for reading and your comments...it really is thrilling for me to share and to read your replies.

ediemay-yes the apt was a good one, little shabby as you say, but excellent location.

stokebailey-I have posted more pictures including the snow princess...a little blurry as she was on the move.

www.flickr.com/photos/28199474@N04/

work is getting in the way of writing -I will try and finish up this weekend.

On our last full day in Paris we have tickets to see a performance from the School of Dance of the National Opera at the Palais Granier.

But first to rue Cler.

All week we had seen banners of a brocante flea market to be held on rue Cler.

We go to Starbucks because they have coffee to go and head to the nearest boulangerie. America style we are browsing and munching among the treasures on rue Cler. This is so us, we are in our kind of heaven.

I almost get two vases, and later when I am packing I am really glad I decided not to get them-not sure if I am glad today but packing day I was.

We leave the market with just the cheap suitcase that my sister buys from the luggage store on rue Cler to pack all the Christmas presents she has bought for her family, and the memories of a great morning.

After lunch at the apartment we arrive early at the Palais Granier and browse in the gift store.
They had tutus and dance gear, jewelry and Christmas ornaments all really high end and super cool if you are into dance. I bought a glass Christmas ornament of a dancer in arabesque pose.

We head up the grand staircase. The staircase is truly grand, wide marble stairs that split halfway up, flanked by gold turn of the century candelabra style lamppost. Chandeliers hang from the ceiling and with all the lamppost it is stunning.
Then we go into the theater and wow….the Chagall ceiling against the gold of the theater and the rich red seats and curtains took my breath away. So grand, so beautiful. The theater itself is a sight to see and now we get to see a performance. How lucky are we!

But then we head up to our seats, with up being the operative word. They are almost to the very top of the theater. So high up that you cannot see the Chagall ceiling without craning your neck-so high that the seats are practically vertical in the narrow rows. It’s crazy- a little claustrophobic and a lot uncomfortable.

Then the performance starts and all is forgotten except what is happening on stage.

It’s not really a performance but a sampling of dance class from the youngest group to their star performers.
It is fantastic…well…for us it was…we are both former ballet dancers. It brought back a flood of memories.

After the performance wanting to savor our last night in Paris we take the long way home.

We stop at Brentano’s bookstore to spend the last of our Euros. Really it’s not hard to do at this store. I love this bookstore and was glad it re-opened after being closed for a few years. From my memory it has fewer books and more things to buy. I bought a wallet that I am still using-it is whimsical with quotes and a few Paris scenes on it.

We stroll along rue du Rivoli and make our way to the Christmas Market at Champs Elysees.
Funny the first night I did not like it-the crowds were crushing… this night it was good. Not sure why the difference, is it because I am now used to the Paris crowds, or was it because it was my last night and I do not want it to end?

We buy a vin chaud and stroll the market.

At the end we see a crowd looking up at the sky so we join in and get to see Papa Noel fly across the Paris sky in his sled.

We cross the Seine at Pont Alexandre, head to our street and the last glimpse of a twinkling tower.

"Once you have travelled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey"- Pat Conroy

Wonderful trip report, thank you. I'm bookmarking because I hope to remember to come back to this before my next trip and make notes of a few places to visit!