{"id":18818,"date":"2020-12-25T10:56:50","date_gmt":"2020-12-25T09:56:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colleensparis.com\/?p=18818"},"modified":"2021-01-28T16:25:58","modified_gmt":"2021-01-28T15:25:58","slug":"blue-velvet-christmas-in-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-wptechsupport.com\/colleensparis\/2020\/12\/blue-velvet-christmas-in-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Blue Velvet Christmas in Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three Paris monuments are wearing Blue Velvet this year. La Ville de Paris<\/a> theme this year is “Paris Scintille” (Paris sparkles). Until January 3, Paris sparkles with white drops of light dripping down the fa\u00e7ade of the H\u00f4tel de Ville<\/a> (City hall) and the Luxor Obelisk on Place de la Concorde<\/a>. The Bastille Colonne de Juillet<\/a> (July column) has no white drops but was my first dramatic glimpse of the blue velvet.<\/p>\n

What You Will See<\/h4>\n

The H\u00f4tel de Ville plaza is an illuminated, enchanted, fairy-tale forest with two free merry-go-rounds, including a double-decker. There are wood chalet kiosks with various treats. One kiosk is selling spiced wine, pretzels, waffles, etc. Another kiosk is selling crafts from the city of Paris\u2019 Rendez-vous store made by artisans under the label \u201cFabriqu\u00e9 \u00e0 Paris.\u201d<\/p>\n

The forest scene is the work of the city of Paris<\/a> employees who are florists (fleuristes) and lumberjacks (bucherons). The trees, made up of sixty pine trees plus twenty birch trees potted in containers for the decoration were grown in Ach\u00e8res, Ile-de-France. At the end of the festivities some trees will continue their life in the green spaces of Paris. Others will end their life helping other plants grow as ground cover.<\/p>\n

The lit-up Eiffel Tower and the bright red tree lights lining the Champs-Elys\u00e9es<\/a> act as a backdrop for the Luxor Obelisk, which dominates the plaza. Both the Obelisk and the Bastille July column are surrounded at their bases by lit pines and are over-dramatic with their strong reflections on these rainy December evenings.<\/p>\n

Why Blue Velvet?<\/h4>\n

Based on the velvety blue hue and the play of lights, I was reminded of a song called \u201cBlue Velvet\u201d. Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris wrote the song in 1963. Bobby Vinton popularised the song. The first stanza reads:
\nShe wore blue velvet
\nBluer than velvet was the night
\nSofter than satin was the light
\nFrom the stars\u2026..<\/p>\n

Merry Christmas<\/span> and Happy New Year 2021<\/span>!<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n