The City of Light is a Holiday Delight

The City of Light is a holiday delight, “n’est-ce pas?”

No one knows better how to create more dramatic lighting than the French. Just look at all the lighting tricks they pull on La Tour Eiffel. From now through December 31st, La Grande Dame herself, celebrating 120 years of age, is performing a very special light show four times an evening: 8 p.m., 9 p.m., 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. Have a virtual gander at the show by clicking here, then be sure to come see it for yourself.

The Champs-Elysées is an never-ending wonderland of lights from now through the New Year, having bejeweled every tree along what is considered the world’s most beautiful avenue. Even non-tourists can be found among the admirers at this time of year, strolling up or down between Rond Point and the Arc de Triomphe, admiring the Christmas window displays and reveling in the glow of the light parade. You should be one of them, don’t you think?

At the eastern end, one cannot help but admire the “Grande Roue” (Ferris Wheel) that lights up the black Paris sky at Place de la Concorde. It’s up and turning till 10:30 p.m. everyday between now and January 20th, 2010. A recent rider was impressed by its heated transparent cabins and gorgeous views for the cost of 10€ per adult, 5€ per child and free for those under three years old. In the center of the wheel is a 20-meter sculpture by artist j2999ette Rispal not to be missed while making your revolution in the cool Paris air.

The neighborhood holiday lighting is just about up all over town now, with more than 125 streets and 200 kilometers of lighting as part of what’s called “Paris Illumine Paris” done with the help of 80 merchant associations and professionals in the capital. If you can’t be here in person, have a virtual look at the artistic accomplishment in Le Marais along rue Vieille du Temple this year by clicking here.

To top off your enlightening tour, be sure to peruse the windows at the “Grands Magazins” and bask in the glow of their extraordinary lighting design. Down boulevard Haussmann be sure to stroll past Au Printemps to see its exclusive new creation featuring a shower of stars, a ballet of snow flakes and an explosion of red flowers on the facade. At Galeries Lafayette, witness the multicolored lace of lights by artist Valerio Festi and inside smell the fresh scent of its 20-meter high tree decorated with gingerbread, lollipops and candies.

To see it all without leaving your chair, click here.

But wouldn’t
you rather be here personally to delight in the City of Light?