stokebailey

My Paris-university-bound daughter thinks she'd rather have a visit in the middle of the fall semester than towards the end. Could Nov. be worth a likely tradeoff between nicer weather and more elbow room in the Louvre? (note to those who would kindly point out the lack of a guarantee about weather: Thank you. I know.)

Also, when are Christmas decorations likely to start?

stokebailey

I mean Oct vs Nov.

isabel

I was in Paris last November (also to visit my daughter). It was an "ok" time to be there. I've been numerous times in March and July and November is a little darker, colder but still it's Paris. The Christmas lights were just going up at the very end of November. Here's is my trip report - http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ote-dazure.cfm

stokebailey

Thanks, isabel!

Scram, chenxian.

stokebailey

Thanks, fodor's eds. , for booting chenxian the shoe salesman so promptly.

Isabel, your report is excellent. The photos really are wonderful.

Nikki

I have gone to Paris the past two Novembers and really liked it. The lights were up in the stores and I was there before Thanksgiving. The weather was mostly good enough to be out with a leather jacket. I don't remember anything being overly crowded.

My two trip reports:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...y-to-paris.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...rip-report.cfm

gracejoan3

I regularly do running trip reports..photos and all..here is from last Nov to mid Dec..hope it helps..will give you weather and all:

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...v-3-dec-14.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...14-part-ii.cfm

Joan

kerouac

One thing for sure: Galeries Lafayette starts the Christmas season in Paris in early November, generally followed by Printemps one week later. I would expect the Champs Elysées lights to come on some time during the week of November 22nd.

Byrd

I'm so glad to see this. We are taking our granddaughter to Paris over Thanksgiving week (she is out of school that week). We have rented an apartment on Rue de Buci, but other than that are just beginning to make out plans.

I was wondering if the Christmas lights would be up, and so happy to see that at least some will be.

Can't wait to read all this, and pass it along to granddaughter.

Byrd

gomiki

The Christmas market on the Champs was up and running during the third week of November last year.

What do you mean about "blue lights?"

Luisah

This year Thanksgiving is Nov 25 so you would see lights, and decorations. On one November trip vendors in the flower market were putting up and decorating their Christmas trees and selling ornaments. It's a nice place to get something unique.

I like November in Paris and the weather can be anything. Cold one day, rainy another and sunny and warmer the next.

Luisah

Forgot. Some rooms in the Louvre were crowded, some empty. Don't expect to be alone with the Mona Lisa.

stokebailey

Thanks so much, everyone. I look forward to reading your reports, Nikki and gracejoan.

In my imagination the Christmas lights there are blue, even after kerouac's beyond excellent photo essay -- http://tinyurl.com/242qdfa -- that was one reason I hanker to see them.

The first time I was at the Louvre I was there when the doors opened, raced up past Nike with a mental map to Mona Lisa, hung a couple of rights, and was briefly alone. I still didn't love her even then. I'm thinking more of, for instance, a few minutes in the oval water lily room without getting jostled.

stokebailey

(I know the water lilies aren't at the Louvre, art lovers. I'm just wondering whether less jostling in general is possible.)

Sue4

I was in Paris for last 2 weeks of October '09.
The only place that was REALLY crowded was the Louvre (and that was mainly the Italian wing). The Orsay, Orangerie, etc. were fine (but I did have the Museum Pass, which of course helps).

I feel sure November would be fine (except for the weather!) and porbably a little less crowded, but I LOVE October in Paris, and would always opt for that, if given a choice.

gomiki

I thought you might have met the lights on the Eiffel Tower. They were blue last winter. And red and green and purple. It was quite psychedelic.

maitaitom

"What do you mean about "blue lights?""

Go to Day Nine. Like these blue lights on La Madeleine?

http://web.me.com/tomfielding1/Tom_%...is_Part_2.html

isabel

Last year the tree in front of Notre Dame had blue lights (www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/120879864). It went up the very end of November, like about the 29th or so. The lights on Hotel de Ville were also blue (www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/120879865) (although they look white in this picture). They were also lit (with a musical performance) that last weekend. The lights in Place du Tertre in Montmartre were kind of bluish white.

The only main Christmas markets that were running were the one on Champs Elysees and the one in La Defense.

stokebailey

Thank you, all!

Nikki, I admire your way with a trip report. The photos are lovely, too. I'm looking at thema few at a time.

Gracejoan, so informative! Thanks. The patisserie photos help me overcome scruples about self indulgent trip.

Yes, MTTom. Blue like La Madeleine, and also the Ritz on day 7. Fun report.