It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas!

In the words of one of the greatest men who ever lived, Frank Sinatra, "Oh by gosh by golly - it's time for misteltoe and holly!" You can only imagine my delight, and complete state of holiday cheer - when Caroline and I arrived at Opera to find that Christmas has already come to Paris!

Gallerie Lafayette was completely lit up like a giant, sparkling, building-version of a Christmas tree! The whole square behind Opera was actually! It was tres oh la la-worthy!! Inside, Gallerie Lafayette has giant, pink presents suspended from the ceiling - and an enormous, floating, pink-lit christmas tree!! I was OH LA LA-ing all over the place indeed! The entire theme for them this year is "Noel Gourmand", so their window displays are adorable, sparkly, hot pink creations of presents, Louboutins, macaroons, fur, bunnys, pink wigs, gingerbread men, champange! Basically....anything I would be completely obsessed with is there!

It is the cutest Christmas decorations I've ever witnessed. I should have known that Christmas in france would be all about macarons and champange! I am totally copying them next Christmas and turning my apartment into CandyLand! Like were Queen Frostine lived! I was in a frenzied, holiday state when we left. Which got me to thinking.....is there any season better than Christmas? NON! Is there any place better than Paris? NON! Alors, Christmas in Paris is my ultimate dream!

I orginally thought I would miss New York. The frosted ceiling at Saks, the musical snowflakes outside, the ginormous tree at the Rock, drinking hot cider at the holiday market at Union Sqaure, the Rink at Bryant Park where I skate with the skates I bought last year (and only used twice but it was STILL more cost effective!). But so far - Paris is doing a wonderful job of keeping me satisfied, merci!

We also made a magnifique discovery!! The amazing, gorgeous, delicous grocery store inside Gallerie Lafayette - full of little carts selling gourmet everythings! I had a moment of extreme weakness, after already buying and devouring a cafe macaron, I saw the "chocorons" - chocolate covered macarons! I think we all know what I did next.... walked away. YAY RIGHT! I hope you know me better than that. I said "un chocoron si vous plait!" Cassis of course, and OMG - it was a revelation. What a seriously genius idea! The downside is - now I am going to be craving them. I guess several trips to Opera are on deck!

We also picked up some French cheese from the fromagerie station, and a crispy baguette from the boulangerie station! You can tell a good baguette because of the way it sounds. How many cracks you can hear when you press on it! (I learned that from Ratatouille!) So we took our goodies back to the apt. and had wine and cheese night! Bottle of red, bottle of white, round of cheese, 1 baguette....what more do you need to be happy? Well, 2 baguettes would have been nice. We ate our way through numero un tres vite!!

Due to my holiday cheer - and slight drunkiness, I felt like cooking! So, I whipped up pumpkin soup with the precious remainders of my Libby's, and some fresh snickerdoodles! Half-baked of course so the centers were as warm and gooey as my christmas-filled heart! (Cheesy? Oui! But true....Bien sur!) Ohhh the magic things you can do with a little butter, sugar, and flour! Both were delicieux! I must also note I was listening to the Carpenter's Christmas album as I baked. The best Christmas album of all time! But I must search for some French christmas music because "when in....Paris!" I have adapted the saying "when in Rome" for Paris. Because it should have been about Paris in the first place.

Before we ended up in Christmas/macaron wonderland - we went to La Conciergie. I think it is possibly my favorite bulding in Paris. It looks like a giant old castle.... which is actually what it was. At one time, it was part of the King's castle, and then became the Prison during the French Revolution. So I of course wanted to go because it is where mon amie Marie Antoinette spent the last 2 months of her life! They actually have a bunch of re-created prison cells, including hers! It was very sad for me to see - the cell where my best-pretend-friend was sentenced to death. I cried for a bit, wished I had brought along some flowers, possibly some macarons....

It is quite creepy actually, so see the cells that once held doomed frenchmen! I made Caroline take a rather hilarious photo screaming behind some of the bars. I have refrained from posting it on my blog though because, well - she knows where I sleep!!! We did learn that once they were sentenced to death - they got to have one last "feast." Of course they did - it's Paris! Apparently this is custom in US prisons too. I didn't know that but Caroline did. She seemed to know a lot about prison actually....hmmmmm. You think you know someone. Jokes! Anyways, I spent some time wondering what Marie choose... undoubtly a dessert of various macarons! Maybe she even had a "chocoron" like me because we are long lost soul mates.

There is also a petit chapel inside that Louis XVIII built in honor of Marie and Louis, after they were killed in the Revolution. It's very pretty and petite. I think one day I would like a little chapel to be built in my honor. Again - if only I had been Queen!