one week in paris

You could head out to Vaux le Vicomte to see how they decorate for Christmas. (Not the easiest to get to via public transportation, though.) I'm guessing you've gone up in the Paris Roue (Ferris Wheel), but I do love that one. I don't know if they're doing it again, but last year the Mairie had a carousel in each arrondissement that you could ride for free. Some of them were only for children, but most were open to adults. You could buy a Mobilis pass for the day and go off on a quest to find each of them.

You could skate on the rink at Hotel de Ville, if you can skate and if you can't then you can just watch all the others, most of whom can't skate either. There is an enormous Christmas Market on the plaza at La Defense, which is fun. Take the No. 73 bus to get there. Probably Pariscope will have lots of ideas.

There will be Christmas Markets set up in many neighborhoods in Paris. And many streets, including the Champs Elysees will be decorated with lights. I am really looking forward to all of this.

There will be Christmas Markets set up in many neighborhoods in Paris. And many streets, including the Champs Elysees will be decorated with lights. I am really looking forward to all of this.

L'Eglise Saint Merri, at 76, rue de Verrerie (very close to Centre Georges Pompidou - website http://www.saintmerri.org/) has cool, hand-made art installations year round, and is worth a visit at any time. The church is flamboyant Gothic, and the art is up-to-the-minute local work. It's the home of l'Academie vocale de Paris, which performs concerts in the church every Saturday throughout the year - and they have other concerts going on all the time, too. We're going to be in Paris next Christmas, and I plan to check out what they do - it looks like a marvelous place for art and music at Yuletide.