Baby It's Cold Outside

Ah Christmas! Usually for me this time of year would mean setting up the Christmas tree with the fam right after Thanksgiving and anticipating for Baylor's cute Christmas on 5th street tradition. But since I'm in Paris some things just aren't possible, but luckily Le Marché de Noël was able to put me in the Christmas spirit.

What is the marché de noël?

Well let me enlighten you on this marvelous Paris event. Le Marché de Noël is a huge Christmas market that takes up the entire Champs-Elysées in Paris. There are stalls upon stalls of food, trinkets, and entertainment (and did I say food?). It's honestly pretty amazing for. I mean for someone who just didn't expect Christmas in Paris to be so largely celebrated (don't ask me why) and who was kind of missing Baylor's cute Christmas on 5th tradition, I just wasn't sure, but Paris has definitely proved me wrong. It also low-key put any other Christmas market I ever been to, to shame.

Walking into the Christmas Market for the first time, you can't help but be in complete awe of the shear amount of stuff. Lights are everywhere, strung up on trees, hanging from booths, and Christmas music is playing from strategically placed speakers. Everywhere looks like Christmas just threw up on it. It was incredibly overwhelming and I had no idea where to even go first...but then I saw that they were selling vin chaud (hot red wine) and I just knew everything was going to be okay.

So what does one do at christmas markets?

Honestly, it's a lot of walking, and standing and waiting, and pushing through crowds, and more walking and standing, and eating and drinking hot wine. Don't get me wrong, the first time around it's great to walk around, see what's going on, what vendors are selling (maybe pick up some Christmas gifts), and people watch at the little ice skating rink they have there. You take pictures of all the wonderful decorations, and go into the very impressive, enchanted Christmas forest they have there, and take pictures with Santa and any other character you get your hands on. BUT after all that is over it, it's time to get to what we really came for, the food.

All I want for christmas is food!

There. Is. So. Much. Food. Like ridiculous amounts of food. German sausages, huge cones of cotton candy, sandwiches with melted cheese, and chocolate covered strawberries, ugh my mouth is watering just thinking about it. Yeah, you can go to the Market for the atmosphere and to feel the Christmas spirit, but you'll stay for the amazing food. Just being honest, I have been to Le Marché de Noël about three times? And two of those times were to just eat. And honestly, nothing gets me in the Christmas spirit more than a large cup of vin chaud in one hand and a waffle slathered in Nutella in the other, while hearing Jingle Bell Rock play in the background.