Paris | Christmas in Paris | Definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world also gets to show off their Christmas decorations. Galeries Lafa

paris - Fernwayer Travel Stories & Experiences

France

Definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the world also gets to show off their Christmas decorations. Galeries Lafayette are great at doing this every year with their floating Christmas tree!

Christmas in Paris

United States

There are so many museums and art galleries in Paris that it's hard to decide where to go first. Most tourists want to stand in line at the Louvre, admire Claude Monet, or visit the National Museum of Art – but as so few check out the famous street art of Paris, we knew it was our thing to do.
There is so much history behind each piece of art or painting out there that it is worth investing some extra money and time to immerse yourself in Paris's artistic exploration fully. We did a whole self-organized art walk visiting 7 streets, with an audio tour, and visited the different places on our own (though you can get a personal guide). 
Our highlight was Rue Saint-Maur – a 2km-long street painted mainly by the artist Kashink. The artist plays with classic elements of Parisian street art and combines them with modern political messages.

Street art tours in Paris

Colombia

Eclairs, ratatouille, fromage – mhmm, so yummy – paired with a glass of wine and pleasant company, a French cooking class is a trip for all the senses (and fun, too). We opted for a private cooking class in Paris with Léo, a chef who has cooked in several top restaurants throughout his life. 

The first dish we learned how to cook was a French cheese plate and handmade bread accompanied by filled vine leaves. After that, we learned about French cuisine, the main ingredients, preparation methods, history, and drank some more wine. We learned what ingredients make the French kitchen unique (wine, vinegar, and cheese) and made a delicious ratatouille, one of France's most popular vegetable dishes. 

We read you can also do these courses online, but you have to get the ingredients and tools beforehand. A good option for digital visitors!

French cuisine

Svalbard & Jan Mayen

On a rainy day, at 78°N, M/S Polar Girl sets out from Longyearbyen to Pyramiden. Even in dreary weather, there is joy in watching the puffins swimming alongside the boat.

Then we step on to the most surreal of ghost towns, Pyramiden, a Russian mining settlement with the northern-most statue of Lenin. 

The decision to abandon in the 90s was sudden. People were given just hours to leave. Signs of a hasty departure are everywhere. Dried up plants. Rusted playground swings. Utensils and stoves left in disarray. Hand-drawn artwork taped on the walls. 

The guide points out the men’s and women’s dorm buildings, euphemistically called London and Paris. Everything is trapped in a 1970s time-warp. A blast from the Soviet past. 

Trust Arktikugol (Arctic Coal), a Russian state owned coal mining company, continues to run this, now as a tourist destination. Perfect for filming a James Bond movie.

Back on the boat, we have views of the glacier and freshly barbequed burgers to cheer us up.

France

Île-de-France

Christmas in Paris

Street art tours in Paris

French cuisine

Svalbard & Jan Mayen

Svalbard

Mining the Past