The French have a bad reputation for being stingy, stodgy, and a little arrogant. New Yorker's always joke that we don't notice the arrogance, as we too can get ahead of ourselves. New Yorker's are to the U.S. what Parisian's are to France! All that aside, the holiday season is definitely one time the French go out of their way to celebrate the season. I have never seen lights like the Holiday decorations all over Paris.

The Champs Elysees is lit up like a Christmas tree from the Arc de Triomphe down to the gigantic ferris wheel. You can't help but be in a good mood. I just spent 4 days in Paris on assignment and even I (as jaded a NY'er as you will find) found myself walking around at night humming Christmas carols! Let me just say - I NEVER do that.

One of the best ways to get an amazing view of the city is to take a ride on the ferris wheel - especially at night now to see the holiday lights. You will find the wheel right at the mouth of the Tulleries garden on the Place de la Concorde in the 8th arrondissement (neighborhood).

Lets talk about Shopping!!
The designer boutiques also take great pride in the window decoration all year - but especially during the Christmas season. There are two major streets or Rue's to find the most exclusive designer shops. Faubourg St. Honore and Avenue Montaigne. St. Honore has a little more pulse to it where Montaigne is a bit more sterile in its presentation - but you should see both.

Hermes has created an amazing candy colored fantasy land with sweet shades of pastel leather goodies. There is a spider's web dripping in jewels and ballet slippers that dance overhead. Tucked in little pockets are surprises of exotic bags - all handcrafted by the Hermes elves for the holiday!

Just down the Rue is one of the hottest logo bags in the industry today. Goyard became the coolest under the radar designer bag in the last two years. Its simple chevron design with small logo print is the bag that well heeled women wear when they are confident enough not to wear a screaming logo. They are pricey and this once forgotten accessory house has come into its own! The Christmas tree in the window would make any girl (or guy) squeal on Christmas morning - as it is surrounded by one designer bag after the other. I hope you have been good this year!!!

While you are in the area, take a detour to the Place Vendome. It is one of the most breathtaking squares in all the world. Lined with the most exclusive jewelers, one walk around the place will take your breath away.

Place Vendome is also home to the Ritz Hotel. The Ritz is one of the most famous hotels in the world. The list of the rich, famous and Royal guests that have called the hotel home is too long to mention. The latest buzz and chatter has been the inquest into Princess Diana's death that has traced her last steps on the evening of her death. The Ritz was the last place she was seen alive. Stop in and have a drink at the bar - the legend and legacy is in the air!

The most impressive holiday display I saw was without a doubt by the department store Printemps.
The store is the Parisian equivalent to a hybrid of Macy's and Neiman Marcus. It is a store for the masses but with a really chic sense of style. Located on the Boulevard Haussmann it is a must see.
For the holidays, the store has created a winter wonderland for children of all ages.

One set of windows has a charming forest scene of wolves hunting reindeer in a way only the French could make cute.
You can see the fork and knife behind the wolves back!

The next has the wolves feasting on baguettes of lets not say what (dont' want to upset the kiddies!!) as they dance and sing.

The entire block is a festival of lights and even the sidewalk over head is lit with streams of dazzling ribbons of lights. You can't help but be inspired to shop shop shop. I got very inspired - to come back to the U.S. and start my Christmas shopping. While Paris might have the best holiday decorations - they also have the Euro and with the U.S. dollar trailing at its lowest historic rate (1.49 while I was there) there was little I was buying on that side of the Atlantic! Merry Christmas!