Christmas Season in Paris Part 1: Champs-Élysées

Along the lower sections of the Champs-Élysées is the Christmas markets running from Avenue Montaigne to Place de la Concorde. The markets feature a variety of food stalls selling both sweet and savoury dishes as well as retailers selling anything from gloves, to soaps and Christmas ornaments. There is also an ice skating area that includes an open area as well as a course to skate along.

At night time it is a bustling environment with everyone eating desserts and drinking vin chaud (hot wine with spices). It really gets you in the Christmas spirit.

Reims and the Champagne Region

Between the two tours of the Mumm and Moët & Chandon Champagne caves we visited the town of Reims and their amazing Notre-Dame de Reims cathedral. The cathedral replaced a previous church which was destroyed by fire in 1211. It was damaged during the first world war but restoartion began again in 1919. It is one of the largest cathedrals and I had been in and featured spectacular gothic architecture.

Afterwards we toured the city centre and then caught the bus through the Champagne vineyards to Épernay. The vineyards were speckled with amazing fall colours of red, yellows and oranges against the back drop of green. The weather was wonderful and made for a very scenic drive.

Stephan Bodzin and Marc Romboy

Tonight I am off to Showcase a nightclub in an old naval hangar underneath the Alexandre III bridge in the Champs Elysées. The nightclub is featuring a showcase between the Herzblut and Systematic record labels. Headlining each of those labels are the two great DJs Stephan Bodzin and Marc Romboy.

This is the first time to this club for me and really only the second night out clubbing in Paris. The nights start out a little later than NY with doors at 11pm rather than 10pm. Im looking forward to hopefully hearing some great music on a great sound system that is clearly in a very cool location.

Here are two of my favourite tracks from the artists. The first is by Stephan and the second a collaboartion between the two. Should be a great night!

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Northern Ireland Country Side

During the drive out to the Giant's Causeway we passed through the beautiful Northern Ireland countryside. There were hundreds of sheep farms as well as pristine rolling hills. The weather was perfect for that time of the year. We also passed through the fishing village of Carnlough, home to Winston Churchill at one point.

Australian Abroad and the Giant's Causeway

I took a day trip out to Northern Ireland to visit the Giant's Causeway. The area is made up of tens of thousands of basalt columns caused by volcanic eruptions. The hexagonal columns jut up from the seaside in amazing patterns. Some of the key features include the organ and the chimney stack. Giant's Causeway is a natural wonder that is Northern Ireland's top tourist attraction and a great day trip from Dublin.

Australian Abroad and Dublin

Before I moved to Paris I took a short trip to Dublin for 3 nights. I was able to get cheaper flights by stopping there rather than going direct to Paris. I had been there in January of this year and absolutely loved it so decided to go back again. I was lucky enough to get sunny conditions while I was there, which can be a rarity in Dublin. I walked around the city and saw Trinity College, The River
Liffey, Ha'Penny Bridge, Grafton Street, St Stephens Green, St Patrick's Cathedral and the Dublin Castle.