Back when I turned fifty years old, we spent my birthday in Paris. Since I am a Christmas Eve baby, that meant we celebrated Christmas in Paris. It was exciting and it was special. So while I’m still sixty-five, we decided to celebrate the holiday season in Paris once again.

This time we’ll be there before the holiday, so we’ll be able to enjoy the Christmas Markets and decorations throughout the city. Paris is called the “City of Lights” and during the holiday season it shines even brighter with mesmerizing holiday displays.

From the strings of lights along the Champs Élysées to the holiday window displays at the Galeries Lafayette or Printemps to the glowing Christmas trees strategically placed in the little squares around the city, it promises to be festive. I saw an article talking about the many ice skating rinks being constructed in the market areas and just smiled. There was a time when I would have jumped at the experience, but those days have sadly passed. Now we’ll just enjoy watching the young folks while we sip our mulled wine.

The weather will be chilly, but that’s what happens as December arrives and the holidays approach. There is likely to be a bit of rain that will fall, though honestly, I’ll be hoping for at least a couple of snow flurries. We’ll plan to dress in layers and bundle up and find the hot chocolate or hot mulled wine kiosks or a cozy Café to duck into.

We’ll be staying in the 6th arrondissement at the Au Manoir Saint Germain des Prés Hotel. It’s a nice hotel in an excellent location. There is a metro station, a bus stop and a taxi stand nearby. A few restaurants and cafes – Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore are literally across the street.

Since our goal is to enjoy the Christmas markets, we’ll also be centrally located to get to them. The closest one will be just across the street around the Saint Germain des Pres Church. So yes, snacks in the evening will always be close by. Just think…warm chestnuts!

We will be keeping this trip simple. We have made reservations for a couple of outings but we’ll mostly just wander and have fun. To acquaint ourselves with the areas and maybe instill a little holiday spirit, we booked a ride on the Tootbus for a nighttime holiday light tour. It’s basically a 90 minute ride to see the various places that are brightly decorated. We also booked tickets to a Vivaldi concert being held at La Madeleine. We are just a bit early for the Christmas concerts, but I can sing those songs myself – quietly!

We have also made reservations at restaurants for a few lunches and dinners, but we’re looking forward to indulging in some of the food at the markets. We’ve heard that the dining fare at some is different and delicious, so I can’t wait to check it out. I’m not expecting corn dogs or greasy fries, but I do know about Pain d’épices or french holiday spice bread and Bouche Nöel. Yum!

Anyway, we’re all set with Air Canada and our airport transfers at home and in Paris, so all that’s left is to wait for a few weeks.