Thursday, December 24, 2009

Santa is on his way!


That's it, I tracked him down! He was probably coming from the mountains of Korvatunturi in Finland (You have to say flying reindeer really help when you need to travel fast!) OK, I stop, or this time you really are going to think I'm on drugs! In fact I took this photo near the Grand Palais, off Les Champs Elysées, where they installed a small amusement park for children - I think it's the first time I see it there. In France - well at least in Paris - we don't have Santa Claus, but we have Father Christmas and every year we hear this on the radio (I'm sure this will remind a few things to my French visitors...). I'm off to Trouville today, to meet with my family. But it's not time yet to wish everyone a merry Christmas. Wait till tomorrow's photo ;-)

25 comments:

  1. Hope you have a lovely time avec la famille en Trouville. meantime, this is a perfect image for the day before the day before Noel!

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  2. So were you forced to listen to that every year Eric? Are there more photos of this amusement park? I don't remember seeing it, so glad you snapped a shot.

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  3. I've never seen a roller coaster ride with Santa's sleigh. I love it! Although, those little white wheels look a bit rickety to me.

    Eric, on drugs or not, you can actually track Santa here:

    http://www.noradsanta.org/en/index.html?utm_campaign=en_US&utm_medium=mapshpp&utm_source=en_US-mapshpp-na-us-gns-norad

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  4. And Suzy, how about a little roller coaster with eiffel tower cars? Now that would make you scream wouldn't it!

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  5. My children went there Tuesday evening, with their grand-parents! They loved it (I saw photos)! Maybe you crossed yourselves!?
    For the moment, they are waiting for their supposed-to-be-gifts so much that they can't stand it anymore!!! And me too :)
    Have a safe trip to Trouville, Eric and a nice time with yours.
    Lovely shot indeed or is it reindeer ;)

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  6. Eric - I hope that Pere Noel (aka Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, Farther Christmas) is good to you. I won't be online again until Monday, so I will take this opportunity to wish you and all the PDPers a Merry Christmas.

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  7. Couldn’t help notice the kids close to my own age riding in the sleigh.

    Such dizzying heights and speed. Brilliant image but I feel like I want to come down to Eartha. I wonder if Petit Papa Nöel got a chance to meet her. What a pair they would have made.

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  8. French erections always make me scream, Michael.

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  9. More reindeer games! Yey!

    Your photo looks all "shiney and bright". That is really a cute ride. I don't think I saw one like that before.

    I heard a joke about the Disney amusement park: While they were building it in France, the construction workers and foreman said to management, we are going to have to make the castle in Fantasy land bigger, because they actually have real castels here. (I thought that was funny.)

    Ah Trouville, last May I spent a day in town and a night there in a casino hotel on the beach. Trouville attracts a lot of Hollywood stars. Don't they have some film event there yearly?

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  10. I forgot, Merci for the link to the Christmas music. Just love it. We have a station in San Francisco that plays 24 hours of Christmas music a day during the holiday season. A lot of people listen to it.

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  11. Eric, this time you did magic.

    If I didn't know better, I'd swear the deers are really flying coming from the north......;)

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  12. Great photos..love the colors, but I don't think those are children on the ride are they?? Perhaps children at heart!

    Joyeux Noel Eric! Enjoy the festivities and food in Trouville!! Foie gras, j'espere!!

    @Lois..The radio station is KDFC and I listen to it every year.

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  13. Nooooooooooooooooooooooo, not Tino Rossi!!! ugh...

    Don't worry, Eric, they do the same thing here but the US made Xmas music from that era is pretty aweseome. You should listen to the Manhattan Transfer Chistmas album instead and let poor Tino rest in peace ;)

    http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Album-Manhattan-Transfer/dp/B0000028RY

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  14. If I say Merry Christmas today I can still say it tomorrow, can't I?

    I'm going to try it.

    Merry Christmas, everyone!

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  15. je vois que le pere noel est deja sur la route ;o) alors je te souhaite un JOYEUX NOEL

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  16. Santa? I just heard on Sky News that he was 'accidently' gored by one of his reindeers and has had to call in Health and Safety to risk assess the proposed transglobal trip that he was scheduled to make this evening. I think those 'red' deers are out in sympathy with BA staff and may have expedited this current crisis. Even if he is cleared to go ahead with this trip, he is going to have to sit on something extremely soft for the duration.

    Dermo

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  17. Ssshhh! I only read the first two sentences then stopped. I am sooooo glad you tracked him down Eric! Yay...I think he's on the way to England after you! he he... :D

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  18. I just had a news bulletin from M et Mme Benaut downunder and Santa has already come and gone...keep a look out now.

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  19. I agree with another poster... magical photo... pure magic. Thank you for sharing your gifts with all of us. I'm off for the holidays but I wanted to thank you for making my year so much brighter! I love coming to PDP with my morning coffee and finding the daily surprise! Thank you for spreading the Paris magic! Happiest of Holidays to everyone! Valorie

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  20. @tonton_flaneur, Merci!

    Joyeux Noel Everyone!

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  21. Happy Christmas Eve to you Eric in Normandy, the best area you could be after Paris of course ;-)
    I'm sharing Valorie comment as if it was mine...
    Merry Christmas to all.

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  22. Merry Christmas, Eric. It's been a treat to share with you here, on FB and Twitter.
    Wishing you a deluge of blessings and prosperity!

    Je te souhaite de passer de bonnes fêtes de fin d'année.

    Felíz Nvidad y un próspero año.

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  23. Yay for recognizing that Santa/Father Christmas/Pere Noël comes from Finland! :) Hope you all have enjoyed your Christmas time. :)

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