Like Night and Day

I'm writing this post from deep under the covers in my hotel room. Today was amazing and COLD. Not that it's extraordinarily cold in Paris (temps are mild in the 40s and 50s). It's because mama and I have spent most of Christmas day getting all up close and personal with Paris via open-top tour bus. I know, crazy as hell right? We thought the same thing too, until we realized that daytime Paris is breathtaking but nighttime Paris is TRULY something to behold.

I'll back up a few steps. I've been planning to return to Paris since I left last December. As you know, the city has been through quite a bit since our last rendezvous. Through it all, I've always seen Paris as being so sturdy, so here to stay. And for that reason I didn't hesitate booking my ticket a few days after the latest attacks. But I admit being curious about the vibe - would it be different, would people be more guarded. The biggest difference I've noticed is the presence of heavily armed military and police officers everywhere.

Besides that, Paris still has that magic in the night or day. Below are a few pictures of monuments we saw earlier today and then turned around and saw at night. And we really felt like we were on a tour of a whole new city. Shine on Paris, shine on!

A couple other fun facts about the day:

• Tonight, Mama and I were passing a street performer entertaining a crowd of about 50 onlookers with Beatles songs in front of the Palais Garnier (the national opera house). As we walked past, he called us out, asked where we were from and asked us to come sing with him. Since we knew neither of us should be caught singing in public, we offered to be his backup dancers instead. He agreed and there we were, swaying back and forth, choreographing a couple little steps to pump up his performance. By the end of two songs, one which was Jessie J's "Price Tags," another young woman from the crowd had joined our routine and even a little girl of about 7 or 8 had run up to shake a tailfeather. So very, very fun and soooooo the kind of random awesomeness that happens to me on vacation all the time. Glad mama was there to shimmy with me! 
• Met a nice young woman in the Metro who was having trouble getting the machine to accept her euros. So mama and I had an extra train ticket, gave it to her and then began chatting when we saw her again waiting for the train. Found out she's from Mexico City and traveling solo for a month all over the place (she'd just come to Paris from London and is heading to Belgium tomorrow along with Amsterdam, Italy and a bunch of other fun places). I could tell she was traveling solo. Since that's usually my M.O., I can pick up on it easily. Good for her, very brave and safe travels. 

I mean, the damn thing just start twinkling and showing out when our tour bus pulled up tonight.

Notre Dame is g0rgeous anyway, but at night. just GASP! Jesus is the reason for the season, I tell ya!

Roue de Paris (ferris wheel)...looks a little like our big wheel at the state fair of Texas. Nah, not really! LOL

Here's the Palais Garnier (day vs. night). And if you squint, you can see all those people sitting on the steps that mama and I performed for.

Biggest thing to note here is the volume of traffic. And yes, the lights on these trees are everything. YAY!

This is a big department store called Printemps. I'm convinced it's going to be my new favorite store. I'll let you know if we fall in love this weekend.

Hell, even mama and I look different day to night.