winter magic in paris

by Sharon Santoni

winter in paris, along the riverIt has been a long time since I had an early morning meeting in Paris, but yesterday saw me on the road before dawn, and in the capital just in time to see the sun rise over the Marais – it was magical!

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We are having a particularly mild start to the winter here, and yesterday the light was glorious – a gentle light, tinged with pink, that seemed to enhance the complexions on the cheeks of passer by and make the last few leaves remaining on the trees, stand out in stark yellow contrast against the background of the sparkling river.

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It is a cliché to say I love Paris in any season, and the truth is that I prefer the spring, but yesterday may just well have reconciled me with December.

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Few words today, because I am off to buy my christmas tree, just these shots that I took in-between my meetings yesterday.

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I hope you are having a lovely weekend, thank you for reading me.

49 comments

Cindi Brumpton December 6, 2015 - 3:38 pm

beautiful Sharon! And so necessary for all us to see how this magnificent city is going on! Love it! By the way, I was out driving last night and looking at Christmas lights when I noticed someone had created a small Eiffel Tower in their front lawn using the colours of the French flag. France is in The world’s thoughts.

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Beth December 6, 2015 - 5:46 pm

Thank you for writing so we can read.

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Nancy December 6, 2015 - 4:48 pm

Lovely pictures!
I would love to see pictures of your tree!
We are going to get ours too today….and hang lights on the house…
Have a great day!
Nancy

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Lavenderhill December 6, 2015 - 5:38 pm

Wonderful images but you set a yearly tradition of your Christmas/holiday story. Look forward to reading this years story.

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Sandra December 6, 2015 - 5:47 pm

Sharon:
Just beautiful and everything looks so peaceful. The happiest of the holiday season to you and yours.

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Susan (une femme) December 6, 2015 - 5:49 pm

So incredibly lovely! I’d really love to visit Paris this time of year. Our fall has also been mild, and leaves here are still turning.

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Kathleen Botsford December 6, 2015 - 5:54 pm

Lovely! Thank you!

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Mary Alvarez December 6, 2015 - 6:10 pm

Lovely! Thanks Sharon!

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Vicky from Athens December 6, 2015 - 6:11 pm

Sharon – What a wonderful treat this morning! Thank you!

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Share December 6, 2015 - 6:13 pm

Simply, beautifully, Paris xxx

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Laura Keane December 6, 2015 - 6:16 pm

How beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing. We also are having a mild winter so far in the States. Blessings to All.

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Agnes Irene December 6, 2015 - 6:25 pm

Lovely – these photos capture a pretty tranquility of the city. Thank you.

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Pamela December 6, 2015 - 6:28 pm

What a beautiful way to start your day.. The photos are so pretty.
Have a great day.

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Kerry December 6, 2015 - 6:38 pm

I love how people sit outside in the cafe all year in Paris!

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Glenda December 6, 2015 - 6:43 pm

Look forward to your messages about your life in France.
Love the pictures of Paris today and pray that our world will
be safe.

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Joanne December 6, 2015 - 6:44 pm

We were in Paris, Loire Valley and Normandy last fall – Loved every minute of it! Thank you for these beautiful, peaceful pictures. Thoughts and prayers continue for our beloved France.

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Cynthia December 6, 2015 - 6:50 pm

I have enjoyed that café near la place des Vosges. Charmant.

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Maryanne Flaherty December 6, 2015 - 7:56 pm

Gorgeous Pics Sharon……. Is that restaurant Ma Bourgone on the Place De Vosges?????? I think so…… It is my favorite bistro in Paris……… The best steak tartare,, frites, and a waiter named Lionel who after coming there 4 years in a row always welcomes us warmly……..

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pam December 6, 2015 - 8:12 pm

Can’t wait to see your tree.

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Sally December 6, 2015 - 8:15 pm

Thank you for the beautiful and peaceful pictures of Paris. Our prayers are that it will remain the most exquisite city in the world.

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Felicity Lock December 6, 2015 - 8:15 pm

Oh Sharon, thank you.
It is my 70th birthday early January and my husband of 46 years is taking me to Paris in the early Spring so you have touched a beautiful nerve.
We need to plan where to go, walk, eat watch etc so I have a lot of research to do.
We haven’t been for thirty years – criminal!
If you or any of your lovely bloggers have ideas, pleas do email me.
As always, a million thanks for your wonderful works.
Felicity x

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Vickie Cunningham December 6, 2015 - 8:58 pm

I’ve been to Paris many times, but never in December. One of these days…! In the meantime, thank you for sharing.

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Ron December 6, 2015 - 9:07 pm

Wonderful images Sharon! My wife and I have always dreamed about visiting Paris. Thank you so much for giving us a preview of what is to come. Merry Christmas

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Susan Olson December 6, 2015 - 9:11 pm

I’m here in Paris! Can’t believe it, 5 weeks it’s a dream come true loving every minute.

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bonnie groves poppe December 6, 2015 - 9:42 pm

Lovely photos of winter on the Place des Vosges ….
bonnie

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Rose from Happy Ramblings blog December 6, 2015 - 9:59 pm

Dear Sharon, what wonderful photos. I miss having Christmas in Winter, I am so envious 🙂 I have never got used to having Christmas in Summer here in New Zealand. I would love to see your Christmas tree and photos of your decorations. Looking forward to your next post.

Rose x

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Barbara Lavallee December 6, 2015 - 10:52 pm

Beautiful, peaceful pictures! Thank you! Joyeux Noel from Canada!
Warmest Regards,
Barbara

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Susan Wood December 6, 2015 - 11:32 pm

Autumn is my favourite season of all….there is gentleness to it somehow. And autumn in Paris looks absolutely stunning.Lovely images, Sharon, thank you.

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The Enchanted Home December 7, 2015 - 12:11 am

These pictures took my breath away Vicki, have been in spring and fall but never around Christmas…and that needs to change!! So lovely…..and hoping your holidays are off to a merry start!

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Susan December 7, 2015 - 12:29 am

Love Paris…love your stories, Sharon. Thanks for letting us into your life.

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Michelle December 7, 2015 - 12:51 am

Love the pictures!

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Esther George December 7, 2015 - 1:02 am

Hi Sharon, my favourite time of the year is Autumn and you have captured it’s breathtaking beauty. Thank you for sharing, you have made my day, over here the weather is getting warm and humid and this is a great escape. Till next time regards Esther from Sydney. PS would love to see your Christmas tree, I just know it will be beautiful.

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Marilyn December 7, 2015 - 2:00 am

Beautiful! I’ve never been to Paris in December, would love to see it then.

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Kim December 7, 2015 - 3:25 am

Looks like a perfect day – beautiful colours – thank you for sharing

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Debbie December 7, 2015 - 3:49 am

Sharon,
Beautiful. Hoping you will take pics of your Christmas tree to share with us and definately hoping you will treat us with one of your romantic Christmas stories. Love them.
We are having a really hot winter…………Oops I mean summer. So difficult to fully experience what Christmas is all about when living down under. I miss a winter Christmas now that I am living back in Australia. I do draw the line at putting fake snow on the tree but it’s always a big decision whether to send out Christmas cards with a snowy winter theme or an Aussie theme with koalas wearing santa hats. We have our fake “real looking Christmas tree” which I prefer over the silver tinsel trees that my mother loved when I grew up in Sydney.
It’s not that we can’t have a lovely time. We can enjoy an abundance of wonderul foods and many Christmas menus include huge fresh shrimp or as we call them prawns along with a turkey and honeyed ham, Christmas pudding and all the other yummy things you can imagine. I do think however that all Aussies should at least once in their life experience a winter Christmas especially somewhere in the snow. I have experienced many wonderful Christmases in the U.S. but my dream would be to spend a Christmas in France. Sweden or Germany would be nice too.

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Penny December 7, 2015 - 5:40 am

Here in Southern Australia where we have had a horrendous late spring and early summer, really bad crop fires, high very high temperatures. Your lovely photos of Paris brought back some lovely memories and delight to one who is feeling pretty sick of burning heat and no rain.

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Deborah December 7, 2015 - 5:45 am

Sharon,
As always, I am always intrigued by what you will have on your next post! I love the photos and would love to be in the city shopping for the holidays! There is such a wonderment of the city! So beautiful and exciting, and always time to stop for a cup of coffee! Your country especially the beautiful city of lights has been in our constant prayers. So many individuals lives have been affected and will never be the same! Such horrific crimes are reprehensible!

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Darina December 7, 2015 - 7:26 am

Wonderful photos! Thank you for taking me back to Paris for a while!

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Tijen Köşetaş December 7, 2015 - 1:32 pm

How I miss Paris…

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suzanna December 7, 2015 - 3:17 pm

Oh La La Paris ~ merci Sharon ~ XOXO

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Alicia December 7, 2015 - 3:30 pm

Comme j´aime Paris!!! Merci pour ces photos qui donnent de la lumière à ma vie en ce moment . Alicia (d´Argentine)

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Julia December 7, 2015 - 3:52 pm

Is that the Place des Vosges? 🙂

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ann hodgkins December 7, 2015 - 4:02 pm

Serene and beautiful.
Exploring Paris on foot is a joy.
Thoughts and prayers are with you.
Thank you for your inspiring posts.

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Susan December 7, 2015 - 8:34 pm

The pictures really are magical, I especially like the coffee shop one, how do French waiters always manage to look so classy?
Looking forward to seeing pics of your Christmas tree.
Susan.x

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Jackie Wayman December 9, 2015 - 2:36 am

Hi Sharon,
We enjoyed Paris for Thanksgiving again and it was a beautiful week. We were supposed to have travelers along with us but they canceled out due to the tragedy the week before we came. We stayed on Î’le St. Louis and decided to limit our train traveling outside the city but had a beautiful week nonetheless. Absolutely, wonderful days of wandering the city and enjoying her gifts. Someday we’ll get together again. We’d love to! Love your post.

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Colleen Taylor December 9, 2015 - 4:38 am

How absolutely lovely & so festive this time of year to share Paris with us. I’ve been gone but returned to your lovely blog. Yes, we must see your tree or at least a small part of it.

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Stacy December 9, 2015 - 7:30 pm

So heartfelt to see the sunrise and a new day begin after the outbreak of tragedy that erupted in the city of light so unexpectedly. France takes a deep breath, lifts her chin defiantly and steps into a new day not allowing herself to be broken of her spirit or robbed of her beauty. Thank you for the beautiful photos a true reassurance that France will not wither in the aftermath of a hotbed of acrimony but rise like a Pheonix with each new day.

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Mary December 13, 2015 - 3:36 am

It is so lovely to see photos of Paris. My heart skips a beat!!!! We visited Paris for 11 glorious days this past May. I have wanted to go back ever since. J’aime Paris!

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Marla December 15, 2015 - 8:13 pm

Just learning about this blog after purchasing and reading your ‘Stylish Girlfriends’ book. I’m giving it for gifts this year.
We so enjoyed Paris in December a few years back. We have taken many trips there and I hope there will be many more. But wanted to say how very much we loved the Christmas season in La Belle Paris!

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