Holiday Time in Paris #6

With arrival of the new year, holiday time in Paris is nearing its end.  

We have enjoyed celebrating Saint-Sylvestre (new year's eve) and Jour de l'An (new year's day).  We hope that everyone has a healthy, happy and prosperous 2020.

Even though a new calendar year has begun, Year 4 of The 10 Year Plan continues.

A few days ago, we visited a Christmas market in front of City Hall, the Hôtel de Ville.  The market included chalets offering victuals and crafts.  Plus, there were activities for les enfants, including free carousel rides.  

The market included some seasonal displays, like the ones pictured below.

The market included an extraordinary activity--curling.  Check it out.

Marie-Chantal enjoyed a hot beverage and a bretzel (French for pretzel) in front of the Hôtel de Ville (city hall).

We enjoyed visiting the market, as evident in the selfie below.  (We are still perfecting the art of the selfie.  You can see that we have a long way to go.)

While visiting the Christmas market, we noticed a large group of people looking intently up a nearby street.  We investigated and discovered they were watching a demonstration. Several unions were marching to protest French pension reform.  

The march was largely peaceful.  In the photo above, however, you can see smoke from a pile of burning debris on the street.  After the march passed by, the fire was extinguished.  

A bus stop along the path of the march was damaged. Notice the shattered glass. 

Fortunately, the young children at the Christmas market did not notice the nearby protest march.  They continued enjoying carousel rides, curling and bretzels.  

Thanks for visiting another Christmas market with us.