Dad arrived in Paris on the 23rd, and it was so wonderful to greet him in the airport. It hadn't really felt like Christmas before then - I really needed to see some family. He was jet lagged of course, but later on in the evening we went to the Louvre, which was splendidly quiet and pretty peaceful (I hate going to crowded museums). Then we went to a cute restaurant really close to our apartment. Dad got Beef Bourguinon and I got a little chicken on a bed of sauteed mushrooms. It was the best meal I've had since Italy.
On Christmas Eve day, we went out to buy groceries in the morning so I could make Ratatouille for dinner. This area of Paris was so unreal. There were hardly any cars around, but people just walking and sitting in cafes and shopping. Lots of galleries too - it was a lot like Soho or Greenwich Village. Then we went back to the apartment and I made ratatouille... I'm very new to cooking real food, so I'm glad my dad is OK with being a guinea pig. Then we went out again to try to find a little Christmas tree, but everything was very pricey, so we skipped it and decided to find a branch or something later.
We saw
Platée by Rameau at the Paris Opera. Not only was the theatre absolutely beautiful, but the production was astounding. It was completely entertaining from start to finish. The scenery was very clever and a great modern interpretation. The costumes were fitting and had beautiful detail and significance. Of course the orchestra and the vocal work was beautiful, but the musicians and performers also had a light hearted, comical attitude that enhanced the beauty of the score and did not take away from it at all. Above all, the choreography by Laura Scozzi really stood out to me. It reminded me of the choreography I'd seen in the DVD of the Nederlands Dans Theatre. It had the strength and structure of classical ballet, but the freedom and personality of modern dance, mixed in with childlike/clown gesture and energy. Even though the production was in French, I understood every moment and couldn't help but laugh and leave with high spirits.
After wards we made a stroll through the rain back to the apartment stopping at Place Vendome and then snagged a couple branches from a bush near the Louvre to make our 'christmas tree', which we swiftly stuck in a empty wine bottle and decorated.
Palais Garnier (where we saw Platee)
Église de la Madeleine
View from the steps of Église de la Madeleine looking out towards Place de la Concorde
Inside the opera house
Brilliant Chagall ceiling
Padre
Dance costumes in a shop nearby
Place Vendome
Napoleon Batman
On Christmas Day, we slept in a LOT. Then we ventured out to the Eiffel Tower. It was a bit of a walk, but the river side view was fantastic.
For Mom - amazing dress!
The Seine
Sunset on the Louvre
Palais-Bourbon, where the National Assembly assembles
First up close view of the Eiffel Tower. Mind you, I had never seen it before, so be expecting a lot of pictures.
French bird. This one was in a swamp surrounding a building (dad knows the architect), but we thought it was fake for a while.
Reflection of dad and the tower in a puddle
It gets sparkly on the hour!
For Lyle
Candy lady! (The Christmas market near the tower)
Cheese and sausage man! (I'm writing a musical based on these two and their french Christmas booths)
As a final cap to the evening, we took the metro up to Montmartre, which, thanks to a bunch of movies, I had been dying to see.
Moulin Rouge!
Basilica Sacre Coeur
I forgot to mention - Dad had a nutella crepe for the first time here
We made our way back to the apartment and had a late dinner that dad made. Then it was cookies, Rudolph, and bed.
