Galeries Lafayette at Christmas

No Parisian Christmas would be complete without a visit to the Galeries Lafayette, known for its epic Christmas tree under the dome and the work-of-art window displays that kids and adults line up to admire. Did you know that more than ten million visitors are eager to discover the Christmas windows every year?

Originally, the Galeries Lafayette started illuminating their facade in 1912 for specific events. But it wasn’t until the 20s / 30s that it became recurring and spectacular.

The Christmas celebrations started in 1920 with the annual internal Christmas party. The employees were invited, with their children, to come and enjoy an on-stage show and admire the Christmas tree, both of which were placed just in front of the stately staircase, under the beautiful dome.

I might add it is the ONLY time of the year I visit this department store which a is Parisian icon but sadly has become overrun by tourists.

Galeries Lafayette have prepared a buzzing Christmas this time! How come? Because this year's theme of the department store, it's the Christmas beehive! All off the 11 windows are inspired by the precious bees helping with the Christmas magic while preparing their own party.

The traditional Christmas tree is sprinkled with winter flowers and XXL bulbs while at the top, queen bee is be proudly sitting, admiring the work of the Christmas beehive that awakes every 30 minutes and has the bees flying under the cupola.

The magic of Christmas usually takes hold of the capital a few weeks before the holidays but these past two years no matter how hard anybody tries the "gilets jaunes" and the general strikes are taking their toll on the festive mood throughout the city and the country!

Bienvenue aux Galeries Lafayette de Paris

Little hands all over...

Christmas deco reflections

Love this colour combination

From Galeries Lafayette's rooftop terrace, you can have fun looking out for the Opera Garnier, the Eiffel Tower and the other jewels of the French capital!

Adding to the holiday joy that makes the charm of winter in Paris 

is Galeries Lafayette's own skating rink.

Enjoying an unobstructed view on Paris 

Montmartre and Sacre Coeur in the background

Queen bee towering above all

Loving all the glitter and sparkle but not so much the price tags!

Time for a holiday cheers!

Loving this fashion show...

Yes, I have always had a faible for African music and prints. Now that Expat Girl is in Namibia my focus has clearly honed in on that continent this month.

The sad news is that South African musician and anthropologist Johnny Clegg passed away this week. His song "Asimbonanga" had made it all the way to European charts back in the 90s. Wow, memories of African dance classes and sitting at an African hairdresser's in Geneva for hours having my hair pleated spring back to mind... along with a bunch of open air concerts in and around Montreux during the summers!

So, when I came across this videos showing a dance group called Gold Caviar Crew on a fashion runway that had gone viral it put a BIG smile on my face.

The female dance group gave the audience more than they envisaged at the show and received massive applaud for dancing on the runway while showcasing new designs for AMBA’s Colours of Africa collection.

The Gold Caviar Crew literally closed the show at Vienna Fashion Week 2018 with, walking, or should we say, dancing to “Khona” by Mafikizolo.

The Gold Caviar Crew is an Austrian based group of talented women specialized in Afro dances. Get a glimpse of their gift when they fused Shaku shake, Zanga, Gwara Gwara to entertainment fashion lovers, you’ll love it!

Eiffel Tower celebrates 130 years

So when your daughter is having a melt down over mathematics it becomes a family problem. As usual hubby is travelling and big brother is studying abroad... that leaves momster mummy, yes that would be the one that becomes a monster after she counts to 3!

Nowadays I don't need to count to three any longer, they are both taller than I so I start any discussion with "....son/daughter, have a seat we need to talk".

As we know Paris offers endless opportunities, therefore - thankfully - I had a meltdown cure up my sleeve. Last night was the Eiffel Towers' birthday... 130 years! The mayor decided this needed to be celebrated in style...naturellement... with an elaborate nighttime laser show retracing the monument’s 130-year history.

The Eiffel Tower opened to the public for the first time on May 15, 1889, several days after its inauguration at the World’s Fair. It was the world’s tallest monument at the time, and thanks to strict urban planning rules, it still looms large above the Paris skyline.

It also happens to be right around the corner from our apartment, so come on Expat Girl, let's go get some fresh evening air and have some fun! It worked wonders.

Le Freak c'est Chic!

Folies Bergère... it has been on my list of things to do in Paris for a very long time. Last night was finally the right moment and the perfect show!

When a show opens with the song "Le Freak c'est Chic" you just know you are about to embark on a great voyage even if you are squeezed into a tiny little theatre box sitting on wobbly chairs that have seen better times.

Eccentric, scandalous, provocative, exuberant and funny, the Fashion Freak show was a cocktail of revue and fashion, a musical spectacle of Mr. Gaultier’s 66-year-long life.

Starting with Nana - his beloved grandmother - and her elaborate corsetry that he constructed a conical bra for his teddy bear (his first fashion creation) to his great love, Francis Menuge, in a charming scene where they dance as one in a signature Gaultier navy and white matelot sweater big enough to embrace the two of them.

From Catherine Deneuve, one of the designer’s muses, announcing each passage as she slugs Champagne to a hilarious scene in which a power-suited Anna Wintour, editor of American Vogue, telecommunicates from the stage with an onscreen version of Karl Lagerfeld as reimagined by the Belgian-Congolese comedian Kody Kim. Madonna is, of course, omnipresent.

For this show, JP designed tens of new exclusive outfits to incorporate within an exuberant scenography without forgetting to invite his most iconic creations! He knew he wanted to stage this extravaganza at the Folies Bergère, the theater that has enchanted him since he first watched its television broadcasts as a boy.

It sure enchanted my hubby and I for a night...

Jean Paul Gaultier's life story at Folies Bergère

A quick "flûte de champagne" on a Parisian sidewalk bistro before the show...

... and off we go!

The decor feels like Disneyland for adults

Spectacular ceiling decor

Let the show begin...

The elegance of Christian Dior

When in Paris do as the locals... how could I resist "Les Journées Particulières" organised by LVMH?

The event centers on the five senses showcasing the savoir-faire and creativity of artisans, along with the architectural and cultural heritage of the luxury group.

The principle behind "Les Journées Particulières" is to offer a broad and diverse public an opportunity to discover the elements that give LVMH houses – some of them founded centuries ago – their unique identity.

I was lucky enough to discover the inner workings of Christian Dior. A House that embodies the core values behind the group’s success: excellence, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.

As Christian Dior once said: “A woman's perfume tells more about her than her handwriting. ”

Delicate and precious Haute Couture

Every dress has a miniature version

Gotta love this classic Dior outfit

Craftsmanship at its finest

Baby Dior: le rêve!

Looking behind the scenes

How to make a French beret, Christian Dior style

The seamstresses hard at work while explaining their techniques

Tout simplement sublime!

Was it 700 hours she said?!?

Ateliers des Lumières ... a cool experience!

A big fan of technology combined with art, I was quick to visit Paris' latest addition to the art scene. Located in a former foundry in the 11th arrondissement, the Atelier des Lumières is the French capital's first digital fine art museum.

The exhibition space aims to make art accessible to a large audience who do not regularly visit museums or galleries, albeit I still could not convince my kids to accompany me. My German yoga buddy was more than happy to discover the pictorial art.

The immersive and panoramic light show was dedicated to Austrian painter Gustav Klimt and a century of Viennese painting, including works by Egon Schiele and Hundertwasser.

Standing in darkness, feeling slightly confused and mingling with other like-minded visitors, we stared in awe as the overture from Wagner’s Tannhäuser blasted around the room and thousands of images were set in motion on walls and pillars towering around us. We were transfixed as 360-degree views of artworks flashed around the room.

The artworks projected onto 10-metre-high walls across a 3,300 square metre area were mind blowing. It felt like the works were enveloping us into their fold, as if our feet were loosing ground and our bodies were being swallowed into the over 3000 pictures. I guess that is why they call it an immersive exhibition. All in all a rather cool feeling.

I found myself wanting to reach into the space in front of me and touch the decorative motif "The Tree of Life" as it is digitally cast around the venue and set in motion to a Viennese waltz.

This multi-sensory experience, is definitely one of the coolest exhibits I have visited in Paris... and for a moment I was carried far away from the city of lights to the city of music.

Loving the colours, the medium and the music!

We are all a part of the painting!

What is real and what not?

Being soaked up by art 

Hundertwasser in 3D... mind boggling!

This is what the artwork would look like in Paris colours.

Need to boost our energy and caffeine levels after so much excitement!

A Taste of Paris

My first encounter with Taste of Paris was not a happy one last year but rather than dwelling on it, I whole-heartedly gave the organization a piece of my mind. Turns out, they listened!

So a year later, I am holding two VIP tickets allowing my friend and I not only fast-track, free access to sample the finest in French cuisine in the magical setting of the Grand Palais but complimentary champagne on top of it with a bird's eye view from the mezzanine! Ca c'est la vie d'une Parisienne!

Taste of Paris is a place of encounters and live demonstrations encapsulated in a friendly atmosphere conducive to mingling, exploring, and exchanging ideas of artisans and producers. The event samples some of the most delicious food in taste-size signature dishes served by a stellar line up of Paris’s latest, greatest and most exciting world-class chefs at their pop-up stands.

We were lucky since Friday seemed to be a rather quiet day compared to the usual frenzied and overcrowded Paris' happenings. The event attracted 28'000 visitors over 4 days last year! Without too much queuing we got a chance to experience today’s most sought-after chefs offering us a gourmet experience to remember. Whether Michelin-starred, trend setting or future young talents did not much matter to me, I was guided by the dishes that were on offer and boy I was not disappointed.

Welcome to Taste of Paris

Heading towards the mezzanine but not without stopping chez Alain Ducasse first.

 Now, this monument can compete with the Eiffel Tower!

Pierre Sang Boyer, a rather gothic chef?!?

Who can name these Japanese ingredients?

Chef Kei Kobayashi serving...

... Mini burger de boeuf Wagyu, sauce teriyaki, condiments épicés.

Alain Solivérès proposing Epeautre du Pays de Sault cuisiné comme un risotto, homard et curry. 

Too temping not to move on to dessert.

Who can resist the taste of Ritz Paris?

All the apprentices are working hard to produce...

... La Barquette caramel, biscuit croustillant, caramel crémeux et mouse légère au caramel.

Ferrandi, Ecole Francaise de Gastronomie, is concocting...

... Pavlova fraise framboise with a gold dust finish!

Frederic Anton's team came up with Le Citron comme une tarte, meringue croustillante, sorbet basilic.

Bruno Doucet seduced us with Riz cuit au lait et à la vanille comme le faisait ma grand-mère, caramel laitier.

One last flûte de champagne for the way....