Paris under the Gleam of Christmas lights

Salut a tous,

It is December 23 which means one important thing; that is one day from Christmas day.

This Christmas I will be spending the 24th with my first host family, by going to Church late in the afternoon and then eating ( the rest is still a mystery). Then the 25th I will come back mid day to join my current host family in the festivities.

On another note these past two weeks I have received a plethora of Christmas cards and packages from a bunch of you. Thank you so much to everyone. 

Tia Ana ya me he puesto el collar echo por Alitan y tengo puesto el pantaloncito en este momento.

Mami todo me quedo muy bien y las bolsitas estan listas para donar.

Abuelitos gracias por el dinero, use parte para comprar un nuevo vestido para la fiesta de nuevo ano. 

Y tambien por las tarjetas/cartas postales de navidad.

Martha Penzold, frohe Weihnachten für sie zu.

AND Amanda Flores, you little creeper. No just joking thank you for keeping up on me and I must say that your card was the most unexpected and man you put a lot of intricate detail into it. I found it very sweet and darling not to mention thoughtful. (by the way my host brother was impressed with your art skills)

I hope that everyone had my cards arrive.. but if not I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Now I am guessing that if you read my last post you might be interested to know if I will ever be able to go to Paris to see the illuminations.

Little did you know until know that I did get to go before Christmas. As a matter of fact, my host mother surprised me Friday night by asking me if I wanted to go to Paris the next day.

Of course I said yes (although I had to cancel my own invitation for my first host family to come over and make Christmas cookies) because you never know when an opportunity like that will come up again.

And so just a little past twelve o clock we left and headed on the highway to Paris.

In a little under three hours we made it and parked near the Champs Elysee.

Here is a journey of our day:

Started out by walking and looking at the shops on the Champs Elysee.

 In front of a supposedly well know night theater.

 At the end of the Champs Elysee you find the much anticipated Marche de Noel.

 Ooohhh champs Elysee! Para ra ra

 The Eiffel tower in all its illuminated beauty. And then us..

 We took the tour bus from the Eiffel tower just until Notre Dame cathedral to avoid the long walk.
In the rain..

 Arrived at Notre- Dame Cathedral
Which turned out to be my highlight. The architecture is awes-trucking and I could almost imagine Casimoto   swinging from beam to beam. Also as we arrived the mass had just began which just made it all even more splendorous.

Ended the night of with seeing the windows of the Galeria Laffayette

That was it after the vitrines my host mother got us lost and we had to walk for an hour to get back to the car. All in all a superb day I cant wait to go back later for everything else there is to see ..

 I hope that everyone will enjoy their holidays many hugs and kisses

-Juliana