Paris Vous Aime - Christmas Day in Paris

August 12, 2023

Paris Vous Aime - Christmas Day in Paris

We flew out of LAX on Dec 24, 2022 to Paris. Paris was an overnight layover for us on the way to Athens Greece and as usual, we only had carry on luggage with us.

The flight to Paris was located at the West Gates at TBIT. We had to walk through the underground tunnel from the main boarding gates of TBIT to this relative new West Gates at TBIT.

As we were walking to our gate, we were mixed in with the Air France crew getting ready to board the flight as well. They were speaking French and we felt we were almost in Paris.

When we arrived at our gate, we were informed by an exasperated Air France ground agent that no more overhead luggage space was available. All carry on luggage must be checked. Due to our low fare class, we were the last to board, again we were told by this ground agent that we must check our luggages in. In the midst of chaos we gave our luggages to the ground agent but immediately we realized that that we would not be able to retrieve our luggage until we get to Athens. This is going to be a problem for us.

At the end, a very nice young French flight crew was able to retrieve our four duffle bags and they fit very nicely in couple of the overhead compartments. After this ordeal, we were finally on our way to Paris.

After the luggage ordeal, we were finally on our way

The 777-300 will ferry us to Paris today

sanitary items - it was still covid time in late 2022

Dinner is served

Checking out what is at the galley

Breakfast is served

Stepping out to CDG on 12/25/2022

The only Paris daylight we saw in this layover

Checked in at Novotel Paris Les Halles

It's Christmas in Paris

Our plan tonight was to explore a number of major sites.

We will start from our hotel and walk west along the famed Rue Saint-Honore to Palais Royal and The Louvre. Then continue west along Jardin des Tuileries to Place Vendome. Then catch the metro to Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe. Catch the metro back east to Ile Saint-Louis for dinner and enjoy the night walk along the left bank of the Seine and take in the night view of Notrie Dame. Then finally make our way to see the light show at Eiffel Tower. We checked in at our hotel right at 6:00 pm so we have the next six hours or so to complete this itinerary.

Stepping out on Rue Saint-Honore

Seeing the Louvre from the side of Palais Royal

Palais Royal

It's always exciting to see the Art Nouveau Paris Metro

More Art Nouveau

Walking from the north side of Lourve through the Richelieu wing, we would pass the sculpture gallery or the Cour Marly Gallery. We got a free look of this gallery which houses the sculptures from Louis XIV's collection from his Chateau Marly

Taking in the Louve Pyramid

The Richelieu wing

Selfie time at the Louvre

Continue our walk along Rue de Rivoli towards Place Vendome

Since it was Christmas Day, most of the designer shops on Rue Saint Honore were not open. There were many individual vendors selling souvenir items in and around the Lourve. Along the Rue de Rivoli there were quite a few store fronts selling gifts and souvenirs also. We stopped at a crepe store for a quick bite and moved on. Joanne and I visited Paris in 2002. In 2002, there were no individual vendors around the Lourve selling cheap souvenirs. The store fronts along Rue de Rivoli were much more authentic French and many of these French shops do not appear to be opened anymore in 2022.

We continued walking along Rue de Rivoli and passed ferris wheel in front of Jardin des Tuileries and the Golden Statue of Joan of Arc.