Christmas spirit

"May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve."

Best X-mas gift this year. 

A Swiss touch in the kitchen

X-mas table decorations: simple, traditional and festive

We cannot go without the Italian Panettone 

Busy baking with Expat Girl

In remembrance of Nonna... struffoli fatti in casa!

Babà au rhum à la napolitaine.

Merry Christmas

X-mas plans have changed...

Change of plans... our Christmas in Naples has been cancelled due to Italy going into lockdown as of Dec 24th. Before we knew it, our family of four were on the last plane back to Paris transiting through a completely deserted airport.

Long gone are the days of pre-Christmas holiday travel stress when easyjet canceled flights at midnight on Dec 23rd or Alitalia doesn't deliver your suitcase until 4 days after Christmas and you've been wearing the same clothes throughout the all the festivities... yes, we've had our fair share of Christmas travel adventures!

This morning I was out and about early to avoid the Parisian crowds... orata, gamberi, tortellini, panettone, dolcetti for the Italian tradition... turkey, cranberry sauce, mince pies, christmas pudding, mistletoe, poinsettia and lots of Christmas glitter for the Anglo saxon celebration. 

Luckily I had secretly popped out to buy a proper Christmas tree the week before... all it took was Expat Girl expressing a wish to have a tree that reaches the ceiling... how could I refuse... I know, it is not really sustainable... but then again we have been stuck inside for most of this year. This was my treat!

So, we are now in business for Neapolitan Natale tonight and British Christmas tomorrow! I'm just wondering if I can sneak in a French "Bûche de Noël" into the menu.

Tanti Auguri di Buon Natale! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

First time we'll be spending Christmas in Paris

Deserted Napoli airport on Dec 23rd

Woman on a mission early morning Dec 24th

A little culinary indulgence at La Grande Epicerie

Our local market in full swing

Thank Goodness for Marks & Sparks, where else would I find all the British Christmas goodies?

Who knew that Mistletoe was called Gui in French?

Paris' Christmas windows

Every December many Parisians stroll down to the 9th arrondissement to admire the Christmas windows of the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps, glittering and shining even at 10 am in the morning. Much to the childrens' delight many mechanical figurines make the windows even more exciting. 

I must be honest, despite Covid restriction I did venture out an hour to take a quick peak, it is a tradition I just cannot skip... especially during current times when the Christmas cheer is hard to come by.

I did not dare enter the department stores thinking I might be pushing my luck but it was a real treat to watch the toddlers standing in awe in front of the colourful windows... a true breath of fresh air for the lungs, for the mind and for the soul.

The week in a flash

A message from an unhappy camper

A fruity interpretation of a Christmas wreath

Pont Alexandre III... elegant as ever.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Primary School Holiday Bazaar

Sunday morning walk through the Tuileries park.

Lunch delivery until restaurants open up again in January 2021

A night jog under the lights of the Eiffel Tower

Selling my Paris greeting cards for a good cause

Brocante or Movers?!?

Colourful Napoli

One of Napoli's most famous songwriters Pino Daniele wrote a song called "Napule È Mille Culure" which translates into "Napoli Is A Thousand Colours" a loving tribute to the city's fascinating contradictions.

Napoli is a city in constant motion, which surprises and amazes me every time. It is a city that smells of salt. It is chaotic and colourful. It is a criss cross of pedestrian alleys with cars and motorbikes speeding through them and old ladies sitting in front of their door step observing and commenting. 

It is about the art of improvisation in order to survive while enjoying the good things life has to offer. Naples is a city that enchants, that surprises for its mysticism and its enigmas. It is history and art, but it is also a state of mind that envelops you and accompanies you through its streets and neighborhoods.

Napoli's biggest asset, however, is its people's kindness. Luckily I am married to a lovely Napolitano which means we get to spend Christmas with "la famiglia" (it's a big one) and I can take photographs to my heart's delight... in a thousand different colours!

Forza Napoli... where football is religion!

Food in Napoli is another very serious matter...

... as is meeting up with your 500 best friends for a pre-Christmas aperò!

Definitely on my shopping list!

Gli struffoli... a Neapolitan Christmas tradition made of deep fried dough balls bathed in a syrup of of honey and citrus rinds and decorated with coloured sprinkles and candied fruit. 

It's just not Christmas in Naples without it. 

Yeah, the metro is not on strike!

I have a soft spot for kitchy souvenirs

A typical Neapolitan scene

Diego is still omnipresent and widely adored!

Time for lunch in the sun... tutto azzuro!

Napule è ’nu paese curioso

è ’nu teatro antico, sempre apierto. 

Ce nasce gente ca senza cuncierto

scenne p’ ’e strate e sape recità.

Nunn’è c’ ’o ffanno apposta; ma pe’ lloro

‘o panurama è ‘na scenografia,

‘o popolo è ’na bella cumpagnia, 

l’elettricista è Dio ch’ ’e fa campà.

Ognuno fa na parte na macchietta

se sceglie o tip o n’omm a truccatura

L’intercalare, a camminatura 

pe fa successo e pe se fa guarda. 

(Eduardo De Filippo)

Buon Natale and Merry Christmas

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!