Paris Diaries Christmas Day 5

The Last Light

The time on this trip passed by way too quickly. I had plans to meet my friend Jenni for a shoot at Galerie Vivienne, in one of the oldest covered passages in the 2nd arrondissement. I had an apartment around the corner many years ago and loved walking through it.

On the way from my hotel on the Left Bank, I crossed the Seine and through Palais Royal. Rain was not in the forecast, and it was supposed to be the nicest of the five days, but a light mist fell from the sky for my 30-minute walk. It was enough to pull out the umbrella for a few minutes.

The rain made for an extra layer of sparkle during the holiday season. While it didn’t snow, there was something magical about this mist. In the evenings, the streets glistened, and with all the holiday lights, the streets had an extra glow.

Jenni and I walked down Rue St. Honore and back to Place Vendome to see the lights. We popped into The Ritz for a few minutes, and I spotted the tea time I now regret not booking. It looked terrific and was more what I had imagined for the holidays than the cakes served at Plaza Athenée. The Ritz was beautifully decorated for the holiday season, with a large Christmas tree at the entrance.

I ended up lingering in Place Vendome after Jenni and I parted ways. The light in Paris was grey, and by 1:30, it started to get dark. Holiday lights popped around the city, and I just wanted to soak up as much of the city as I could on my last day.

For lunch, I ended up having something quick and delicious. I remembered a Korean place off of Rue St. Anne that I visited years ago. It hit the spot and was a great way to warm up. There was so much I wanted to get done, but the light was not on my side. I knew I wanted to finish the day on Île St. Louis. It was where I wrapped up my last trip in October, and something was pulling me back.

I walked across Pont des Arts, which was surprisingly decorated for Christmas, and I loved it. There were several spots around the city, including Place Dauphine, with no decorations, so this surprised me in the best way.

Many years ago, I shot a photograph in the early morning of the restaurant with the red awning on Île St. Louis. We have it on our large Samsung TV on our wall, where I look at it every day. I have sold the photograph many times over the years and love it. It was cold, and the outdoor terrace was empty, but I found the perfect spot to sit for a glass of wine and watch the world go by for a few minutes to catch the last light.

The waiter thought I was crazy as I was the only customer outside braving the cold weather. I watched the lights turn on around 4 pm to illuminate the street down the island's center. It was perfect and exactly where I wanted to be.

With the end of the light, the temperature dropped. I slowly returned to my hotel, walking down Boulevard Saint-Germain and picking up a few souvenirs.

Chocolates and an anniversary card for my husband were the few things I purchased. I didn’t end up doing any shopping until the airport the following day.

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