There are simpler decorations around Paris than the mind blowing ones seen at the department stores. Here are a few of them:

A simple painted window of a cafe.

I loved this hat in a shop selling men’s hats. It looked like one Scrooge would have worn-or the Cat in the Hat.

The lovely Stoher’s on Rue Monterguile.

Oysters are always found for sale at Christmas time. Maurice always gets some for Christmas Eve.

A tree made out of chocolate.

I think this is Saint Sylvester, seen on Christmas decorations in France.

I really had to make myself get out after dark to get some Christmas photos. I don’t know why I don’t realize how great it is once I arrive. I guess it’s just hard to leave a warm apartment especially if I’ve already been out during the day. On this night, I headed to the giant departments stores, Printemps and Galeries Lafayette which are always impressive.

Printemps lights were really outstanding.

Cute windows for the kids. Prada was also a part of it.

Galeries Lafayette has the most outstanding Christmas tree under that fabulous dome.

I went to the top of Printemps hoping to get outside on their terrace for photos. They wouldn’t let me as it was dark. I hope to see the Eiffel Tower too but fog had descended and it couldn’t be seen. I took this photo of la Madaleine church in the distance.

This is the church again-the colors changed as you watched. There are lights shining upwards on the side of the church but with this street light in the position it’s in in my photo, it looks like a celestial light shining down-or maybe a space ship.

One more shot. So pretty.

I would be tempted to stay inside all day since this is Sunday but a look at the sky outside my kitchen window has changed my mind.

I was looking around Paris for Christmas decorations when I realized that I hadn’t seen what they had done in the swanky George V Hotel.

The arches over the doors are covered in lights.

The first thing you see is this Christmas tree.

With two enormous reindeer behind the tree.

This graces the desk above the concierge.

The courtyard is set up for Christmas too.

Elegant pots here and there filled with white flowers.

Another view of one of those deer. Rather stunning.

I was in a metro stop that was under renovation with a friend. It was looking dirty and ratty and I saw a sign that I thought said in French, “Mice are contagious” Kind of strange but seeing the debris everywhere I could imagine mice being driven out by the work as tiles were torn down and holes dug in walls and I look around to see if I could see any mice racing along the base of the walls or on the tracks-I have before. And mice carry diseases, right? To show you how faulty my thinking is and how speed reading another language than my own can lead to errors my friend pointed out that the word wasn’t souris (mice) but sourires (smiles). Thus, smiles are contagious. Duh. Made me smile anyway.

I think this is a little mouse peering down amongst the flowers sculptured above a door.

Signs of Christmas are showing up in Paris. These perfect little trees are made into that perfect shape by wiring pine branches into place on an interior pole. We bought one last year. I liked that there weren’t any holes or imperfections and that you still got a pine scent.

This device over the window was used to bring up objects on a rope to apartments several stories up. I’ve never seen one used. When we had things moved up to our apartment, they were lugged up on the backs of the poor delivery men.

A photo in the Luxembourg Gardens on a sunny day-we’ve had several in a row and I think it’s going to continue for a week or so.

I was out the other day with a friend and took all sorts of photos.

Before I met her, I went to a movie with Maurice at the Bercy theatre at Cour Saint Emillion. This a a view of the shopping area from up above in the theatre. We saw Casse Tete Chinoise which was mostly in French but also some in English as it takes place in New York City. I liked it.

I stopped at the newly renovated Place de la Republique which is now mostly pedestrian. Very nice but there was a cold wind blowing through.

A look up from a courtyard in the left bank-love the circle but wonder what the rooms are like in the building. Sometimes interesting exteriors lead to strange interiors. The courtyard is private and locked so I stuck my camera out through the gate to get the photo.

Just loved the light shining on this building. I never get shots like this in the summer because the sun sets so late and I’m home before it does but when the sun starts setting earlier and earlier I get to see more incredible light.