Le marché de Noël

  

Without Thanksgiving, there is nothing stopping the Parisians from beginning Christmas celebrations already. Lights and trees are popping up all over town.

Last night, we went to the Champs-Élysées to visit the Christmas market that stretches from the Champs-Élysées roundabout near the Arc de Triomphe all the way to Place de la Concorde, on both sides of the street. Père Noël and polar bears decorate the booths that line the street, designed to look like a little village and selling anything from vin chaud (hot wine) and crêpes to Christmas ornaments.

And how could we pass up the opportunity to "descende" the large, four-person potato sack slide on the Champs?

We walked up and down the street, eating waffles and riding the ferris wheel, and feeling a little better about missing Thanksgiving celebrations back home in the United States.