Paris Mid-December
Oct 23rd, 2023 | 02:05 PM
#21
Joined: Nov 2004
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We've spent 4 pre-Christmases in Paris. It is our favorite time to be there. Kerouac posted a list of all the streets that were lit-up by special Christmas lights - and we explored them all. One pre-Christmas in London - which we didn't enjoy as much as Paris.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
Oct 23rd, 2023 | 11:21 PM
#23
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 23,441
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My first visit to Versailles was during an American Thanksgiving weekend forced layover due to flights cancelled because of severe winter weather. It was really pretty treacherous with everything covered in ice (you haven't lived until you try walking on ice covered cobblestones!) and quite cold so we did not stroll through the gardens but enjoyed touring the uncrowded castle. We also stopped in the town for some delicious hot chocolate (there is now an Angelina's right at the castle, I believe) and enjoyed the local merchants' association coordinated holiday decorations.
Oct 24th, 2023 | 06:25 AM
#24
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,284
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""" You don't need a tour for Versailles, they have audioguides.""
You need to book a "human" tour for the Kings Apartments, if you want to see them. If there are huge crowds at Versailles (we've never visited Versailles in Dec), starting the visit at the King's Apartments will avoid the long lines at the "regular" entrance to the castle (1 1/2 hr wait on a Sat in October when we were last there). There is a separate entrance for the gardens & fountains.
Note that Paris is farther north than anyplace in the continental USA. Farther north than Quebec City, Canada too.
Stu Dudley
You need to book a "human" tour for the Kings Apartments, if you want to see them. If there are huge crowds at Versailles (we've never visited Versailles in Dec), starting the visit at the King's Apartments will avoid the long lines at the "regular" entrance to the castle (1 1/2 hr wait on a Sat in October when we were last there). There is a separate entrance for the gardens & fountains.
Note that Paris is farther north than anyplace in the continental USA. Farther north than Quebec City, Canada too.
Stu Dudley
Oct 24th, 2023 | 06:37 AM
#25
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,284
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Super insight Kerouac. And some cities use lights brilliantly to make your time a succession of warm cafes to stunning medieval walls to dappling Xmas fairly lights in windows to hazy warmth from wine bars - - it can be an enchantment. My best experience in winter was Ghent - - they illuminate by placing lights on the outside of ancient building pointed back toward the building, so there is an exploding splay back from the character wherever you go. Though Bologna in winter is a moody marvel, too. Here in Hamburg people used the most delicate of lights in all the windows over the darkest days - - it's so charmed. I'd be really interested to hear people's favorite winter cities where everything is a warm spangled wonder.
The most important thing that happens in the off season are the cultural opportunities in cities like theatre, though even that is replaced by festivals in the hinterlands.
Oct 24th, 2023 | 10:53 AM
#27
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 24,040
Likes: 6
Regarding Christmas lights, besides obvious places like the Champs Elysées where they were already stringing Christmas lights in the trees in September, various merchant associations finance the lights in the main shopping streets, like rue Montorgueil, the Grands Boulevards, rue Saint Charles, avenue Secrétan and rue de Sèvres, to name just a few. On top of that, the city of Paris generally chooses a different street in every arrondissement to help finance decorations exceptionally. My street was decorated just once, in 1999, and there were a few strings of light at the main intersection once or twice after that, but the merchant association cannot be counted on for that since most of the shopa and restaurants in my area are Muslim, Indian or Chinese.
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