I had free tickets last year and took my Alzheimer mother to the Cirque d'Hiver. It was the highlight of the year for her, surpassing the death of my father in February. We were in the very first row and the horses, elephants and tigers were breathing and/or drooling on us.

Nina and neddag,
We're going to be at Jim Haynes' on Christmas Eve, too.

We need to have a Fodor's secret handshake or something, so that we recognize each other!

Hoping to meet you there,
Marcy

Marcy -- yes, we have to do that -- I can just send a picture of myself to you, so you can identify me :) Maybe Nina will do the same?

So, I looked into getting tickets for the circus on the FNAC website, and although I was pretty impressed with myself for figuing out how to navigate through the site in French (although I know barely any) -- I was lost when it came to "registering"/ signing up to be able to use my credit card, etc..
Does anyone know if FNAC has an English option I was just not seeing, or another way to reserve the circus tickets?

One other question -- My favorite desert/pastry in paris is the macroons! Although there is a particular shop we have gone to in the past, I was wondering if anyone has their favortie shop and wouldn't mind sharing?

neddag, marcy, and anyone else who will be at Jim Haynes on Christmas Eve, email me at [email protected] and we will devise an identity plan.... no reindeer antlers or elves suits, please.

Christina, Jim is an American from the south, who has lived in Scotland and Paris for years and years.

Many Fodorites., including a friend of mine, have been to his Sunday soirees and have enjoyed them, stating that they have met some very bright, interesting people, locals and Europeans, not just American tourists. I am really looking forward to it.

Do a search on his name and you will find his name in numerous threads, some very recent.

No gift is required nor expected - just an envelope with 20 euro per person in it.

Neddag - I bought macaroons at the large Laduree pastry/cake shop/restaurant/ on the Champs Elysee.
What a selection!
Also had dinner there one evening and it was superb!! Laduree is near to George V metro as far as I can remember.

i think i got my cirque tickets directly through their website. did someone say it's not working? i had a receipt, and picked them up at a "will call" window.

bon voyage, you lucky people!

Neddag, there is an English option on the FNAC site. When you search under "spectacles" for "cirque d'hiver" and then click on the picture for the show Artistes, you come to a screen which gives you a choice for "your order in English" next to the flag icon.

I found the actual cirque website a little finicky and it did not let me order tickets on the English version. The French version was on and off in terms of opening up the ticket window, but, with a little persistence, I was able to order the tickets directly from them, holding the tickets at the window. The middle-priced seats on the top floor are mostly gone for the dates that we are there, so we opted for the first floor loge--close enough away to likely pick up the smell of the elephants and horses, but probably far enough away to avoid the spit and lather! It looks alot like the Big Apple circus, which is a family tradition for us....

letour