Getting Festive

And so the Christmas preparations begin.... first stop - a tree. Most of the many florists in our quartier sell Christmas trees, but as you can imagine, a Parisian florist Christmas tree comes at a premium. Prices start at 65 Euros ($105) for a 3 foot tree, so we opted to save a few bucks (we paid 25 Euros) and sacrifice quality, and buy our tree at a neighbour grocery store - and boy did we sacrifice! A tree only Charlie Brown could love. The one redeeming quality of our grocery store Christmas tree, is that it comes with its own stand made out of a buche (log). The buche keeps the tree rock solid and apparently allows the tree to stay fresh and keep its needles until March. We'll keep you posted validity of this myth.

D checking out the trees at "Ed".

D & P help their Dad carry the "tree" home.

On Sunday we decided to walk down to the Champs Elysses to check out a Christmas Market. I had seen them setting up the long rows of charming white wooden huts, a couple of weeks ago and had visions of French craftspeople, making the trip from the country to sell their handwoven linens, pottery, and arty Christmas decorations, I couldn't wait. In the end, the huts contained Paris tourist crap, asian gift store trinkets and a surprising number of huts selling Canadian stuff (maple syrup, fleece belaclavas). As we pushed our way through the bus loads of people along the boulevard, Rupert hit the nail on the head "We could be in Hull".

But all was not lost. Almost all heavily congregated areas in Paris offer a pay-to- play ride for children. Usually a charming old carousel, car ride or swing of some sort, but this time the Champs Elysses had something new to offer - Trampolines, with the added bonus of a harness hooked up to, tensioned surgical tubing. The girls had a blast!

D, P & Rupert reflecting on their stroll through the "Hull" Christmas market.

D with P in the background trying out the new ride.