The Galeries Lafayette in Paris is a gorgeous old building. It has a magnificent dome and a multistory area in the middle which is currently filled with an enormous Christmas tree.
The balconies overlooking the middle make me think of the opera.
I love how this looks in photographs – magical because you can’t see the wires. Very celestial.
This is my favorite “ornament” but I love the details of the stained glass too.
The outside of the building. They do an elaborate light show at night.
So outside in the world it’s Christmasy but I haven’t even begun to decorate here in the apartment – it’s still Halloween. I just don’t want to tackle all the clutter that needs to be moved. sigh.
We have started our Christmas movies though. My beloved Bell, Book, and Candle with Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart and Desk Set with Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey. Both wonderful romantic comedies – amazing how the old Hollywood appreciated that you could fall in love at any age, instead of only in your perky perfect 20’s…
Also watched the first Wallace and Gromit adventure: A Grand Day Out. Definitely my favorite. I appreciate the roughness and coziness of it all. And I love the little coin-operated contraption on the moon – expressive little machine.
I am so jealous of you with BBC One: there’s a new W&G feature called A Matter of Loaf and Death. I hope they don’t wait too long before showing it in the states.
I am making great progress with quilting Rumspringa – that’s the one thing I seem able to focus on lately. Been watching Buffy (Mayor definitely their best villain ever and while Hush is an amazing episode, you just can’t quilt to it) alternating with Angel (The first season is not as bad as I remember it. And now Wesley is on – woohoo)
Ya’all take care and I’m having fun reading all your comments on the last post.
We were lucky enough to see this last Christmas, it was sooooo magnificent it even had DH 'Oo-ing & Aah-ing' ! Love their Food Hall too ! Thanks for bringing back a special memory !!..AJ
ReplyDeleteThe Galeries Lafayette looks amazing! I love those hanging balls. Marshall Fields in chicago has a gorgeous dome, too, and in another part of the store a multi-story atrium with a skylight. Beautiful, but not as much as GL.
ReplyDeleteThe first time my DH went into GL they stuck a little ticket in his hand and he didn't know what was going on. One of the clerks scratched it off for him and then started screaming -- he's won a bottle of champagne!
I just love it when you post pictures of Paris. I have got to get there one of these days. It is so beautiful. I am sure that puts everyone in the Christmas spirit. I love Bell, Book and Candle too.
ReplyDeleteGalleries Lafayette is so elegant. I've never seen it at Christmas but it looks even more posh in your photos.
ReplyDeleteWow the pictures are gorgeous I can't even imagine seeing this in person, lucky lucky you!
ReplyDeleteThose photos are just awesome. Truly truly gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI suppose they've moved everything around again! Do you remember getting lost in Printemps?
Forgot to say that if we had a DVD recorder I'd willingly record W & G for you, but I haven't. How about a video?
ReplyDeletelovely tonya...thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteThe tree looks amazing - I've never been to France... perhaps someday. And now you've made me want to go find "Bell, Book, and Candle" - haven't seen it in years but always loved the cat's name.
ReplyDeleteWow!! This is gorgeous! I'm looking forward to seeing Christmas Decorations in Amsterdam and Haarlem too....less than 2 weeks! YEAH!!
ReplyDeleteBonnie (who will do the tree by herself...and be happy about it)
Wallace and Grommit. Another of my faves. Grand day out is good, but probably my least fave of all their adventures. Glad to hear there's a new one! I'll have to get it when it comes out on DVD.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the Mayor was so so great. And I think he really did love Faith. Still watching True Blood. It is soooooo great!
Absolutely beautiful, Tonya! Thanks for sharing those photos. Now, I've got two more movies on my Netflix queue! We are also big W & G fans here. Have you seen the Creature Comforts shows? They are hilarious too.
ReplyDeleteI just love the pictures...of the floating balls especially. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI know you're anxious to be stateside again, but oh how you will miss having such amazingly beautiful "faraway" places like GL to photograph that so many of us will never see in person. I know it is all about seeing ordinary things through new eyes, but...
ReplyDeleteWe spent Christmastime in Paris 2 years ago - such a wondrous place, No better place I would love to be.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Tonya.
Love those photos - wish I'd made it there! There really are some great window displays in Paris this time of year, as I remember! Crazy trip back to Vaasa - still getting caught up!
ReplyDeletethanks for reminding me of Bell Book and Candle, I am going to put it on my christmas list. I was checking out the website on your sidebar-I could go a little crazy there! I think I'll have to point Santa in that direction too! Love the Christmas-y pics too!
ReplyDeleteOh how cool is that place! I've never seen either one of those movies - where have I been? I have to go looking for them now!
ReplyDeleteThat's magical! Wow!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful festive pictures...
ReplyDeleteGaleries Lafayette--now there is a department store! Wow!
ReplyDeleteAnd you're watching Desk Set? One of my all-time faves.
Beautiful pictures and what a magnificent tree. Desk Set was a favorite movie of my mother's. Thanks for that memory.
ReplyDeleteLove Bell book & Candle too. The tree and surroundings are beautiful, is that a shopping mall?
ReplyDeleteit's starting to look a lot like Christmas!
ReplyDeleteLOVE wallace and grommit!