Christmas on rue Saint Dominique

I have a set routine when I first arrive in Paris. Before I even make it up to the apartment, I must make a quick stop at the boulangerie next door to our apartment on rue Saint Dominique and grab a warm croissant. Nobody, but nobody does buttery, flaky croissants like the French do. This time was no different, but I was stopped before I even got inside by the Christmas decorations that had gone up since my last visit and changed La Boulangerie to a winter wonderland. The owners had even erected an entirely new facade on the front of the building with faux 'buche' (logs) complete with feathery soft snow, blue twinkling lights, wisps of branches, and even pine cones. The French are known for their beautiful artistic presentation - whether it be the wrapping of a purchased item of clothing from the local 'magasin' (store) in color coordinated tissue paper, the carefully laid out food dishes on a dinner plate, or simply the eye-catching arrangement of vegetables at the local market on rue Cler. It's important that it looks pleasing to the eye; they take great pride in this. I so appreciate and admire the extra work that goes in to all the beautiful decorations that are put up for the season. The festive Christmas lights strung across our street in a zig zag pattern up and down the complete length of rue Saint Dominique looked even more brilliant as the Eiffel Tower began it's hourly twinkling in the background.

I decided then and there that even though I wasn't going to be in our apartment for very much of the Christmas season, the act of decorating the apartment - regardless of the amount of work involved - would be worth it. And I bet the friends that we had staying in our apartment will be appreciative, too.