Strasbourg Christmas Market

This Christmas Market was one I had looked forward to all year, last year I was able to see how Christmas was done in Netherlands so this year we ventured over to France to see how it was done there! Well it was a really long drive in a crowded car....somehow the smallest human in the car takes up the most space. We also got started later than we had planned.

I really can't wait to go back to this town on a weekend and spend sometime exploring it just like Nuremburg. They are really pretty towns and I can only imagine them with green trees and flowers everywhere.

I have to say now getting down to it...I was really dissapointed with this Market. Maybe we missed something, but I felt like there is a lot of hype for what is really a small market. And going on a weekend evening was also not a great choice. It was so crowded we spent most of the time looking at our feet and trying not to run into other people. We didn't get a chance to even get close to the stands to check things out.

But of course we were able to enjoy a glass or two of Gluhwein!! And some Kebabs!! Before dashing away back home.

Their Market Square area is really pretty the buildings are very impressive!

Albert in front of the masses of people

Chandeliers!

I feel like we may have missed some of the market down this alley but had no desire to attempt it.

Stands from a distance.

This building has the same windows as my cabinet at home does :D I love it!

Hahah what a creep!!

Worlds creepiest manniquin!

At this point I must have changed a setting on the camera because everything got a little blurry. But Kyra and I were dancing to the street performers!

I wish I could claim this picture as my own, but Erica took this Beautiful picture!!

Project 52: Man Made

Okay I guess my complaints about paris are a bit shadowed by the fact it has some beautiful architecture. Beautiful OLD architecture.  That all and all amazes me. These buildings are so intricate, and detailed and well did I mention Beautiful??? So even tho the city itself is kind of dirty and the people can be rude, if you could go into town all alone and look at the pretty stuff Paris would blow your mind!! 

With this subject I found 2 of many many buildings that i just adored. I really wish I had been more careful watching my exposure as I ended up over exposing it and for the sake of this project I am trying to go the entire year with out doing ANY editing so what you see is what I took. But I guess that is part of the learning experience. I will know better for next time. I loved this building so much because of the hearts in the windows...I know you guys probably think I am obsessed with hearts and snowmen but it was just so pretty.

 

And of course the main thing Paris is known for is the Eiffel Tower. I think the part that amazes me so much about this is it's sheer size. And to know that little tiny men can build such a bewildering structure. Although it was really bright I though this angle was awesome!! Probably is all over the internet like this but I am pleased how it turned out. I feel like this picture turned out how I wanted. And I like that although I didn't capture the entire statue, I managed to show such a wonderful point of view that unless you are able to visit it you wouldn't get the chance to see.

For complete list of all pictures from my Project 52 follow this link to Resolutions which has links to all of my project 52 blogs.

Project 52: Details

I know you are supposed to do just one picture, but when I was in Paris I couldn't help but notice all the details in everything. So I decided there was 2 pictures that I took that deserved some special attention. 1st was the one of the statue. I know I know he is Naked. But you see I can only imagine how much time it took to sculpt something that large and to have every detail to a t!  On a side note this guy has a very nice body, very much like a girl haha!

And the second is the gate, and the details behind it on the Louvre. I love to find hearts in random places. I seem to think a friend of mine took a similar picture when she visited Paris. But it really is too pretty to not have a picture of. I also took this picture cuz I wanted a way to show the detail on the building without just taking a picture of it.


For complete list of all pictures from my Project 52 follow this link to Resolutions which has links to all of my project 52 blogs.

Paris in a day

 

I tried to look happy, I just don't like being cold!

 This is an adventure we will never forget on a long day packed full of action. We woke up around 8 from out hole in the wall hotel ready to go and see the town. With much a do over how we were to get in to town we all agreed the best route was to drive to the big metro stop about 5k away and ride from there in to town,

This in itself was a bit of a challenge. As none of us had ever ridden the metro in any town before we didn't even know how to buy tickets. Luckily after being confused and starting to get very cold, a kind stranger offered to help and we were on a train only moments later.

After what was a much longer than anticipated ride, we got off at a station in the middle of town. After the already long morning we were ready for some good breakfast and luckily around the corner was a bagel shop! We each got very tasty bagels named after cities in America. Dustin and I got the Hawaii which had tuna, cream cheese, and avocado on it. And Kyra had a really good yogurt made with real bananas. Than we were off to Norte Dam. Which ended up being quite the walk from where we were. But it was totally worth it as we arrived just at the top of the hour and got to hear the bells ringing. We all wanted to go in but as we got to the front we realized that the line was like two blocks long and there wasn't a chance that Kyra was going to want to stand in that sort of line. So we took the opportunity to take some pictures and grab some souvenirs near by. Than hightailed it to a cafe to warm up under the heat lamps. Also got some Irish coffee and hot chocolate and let Kyra down to stretch out a bit.

Than it was on to the next leg of our journey. We were headed to the Louvre. This too became a much longer walk than we had originally expected as on the map it appears to be only a couple blocks away. First we came upon it from the back and enjoyed the look of the beautiful building and courtyard. But couldn't seem to find the right entrance so we walked further which just led us back around to the front of the courtyard. And the main entrance. But much to our dismay we found it to be closed on Tuesdays :( so we were not able to go in and enjoy any of the art. Worn out and upset, we hailed a taxi, to get us to our next stop.

We were off to see the Eiffel Tower!!!! This was my most anticipated part of the whole time in Paris. And it sure lived up to its glory. My goodness is it big, and beautiful. We walked all the way under it, and than to a really pretty park near by. We chose not to ride the elevators to the top as only one was running and the line for it was just as long if not longer than Norte Dam. But we got lots of pictures and let Kyra down to play which she really enjoyed. We tried to figure out where the catacombs were but couldn't seem to get any real clear directions and had lost our map at some point. So instead we went and bought Kyra her first cotton candy, and took her on a merry go round in front of the Eiffel Tower!!

Kyra's first Merry Go round

It was now time for a late lunch, so we were ready to locate a cafe to grab some food. This proved to be more difficult than we thought it would be as the closest place we found was up hill blocks away. Than after sitting down and getting comfortable they told us they were only serving drinks. As was the place next door, apparently late lunch early dinner isn't a normal occurrence in Paris. But the third diner was the winner and we were very happy with it. The service was exceptional and they were very family friendly!

By the time we got done eating it was nearing 430 and we had been going non stop for almost 8 hours, luckily the metro stop was only a few blocks away. This time we had figured out how to get where we needed to go, and were more relaxed. So much so that Kyra slept in daddies arms all the way back to the parking lot. Located in the parking lot was a huge mall. And since Shane had walked right through his shoes, we stopped in and bought him a new pair. In the center of the mall was a large fake grass area, for kids to run around in, and so we let Kyra go play. She sure must be charismatic as many kids were coming up to her and talking to her in French and trying to play with her. Once she seemed to be fairly worn out we headed back to the hotel.

Cuddling with daddy!

A quick shower, run to McDonald's and some Shrek in French we were all passed out early. It was a long day and I wouldn't recommend trying to pack it all into one day like that specially with a toddler, but I am glad we went. Over all it really is as crazy to drive in, and as dirty as everyone told us to expect. It was really not as impressive as I had hoped. I think I prefer the nice little small towns in Europe.