Nutcracker Suite Kiev

Thank you Rob and Bonnie for a visit 

To the Casse-Noisette/Nut Cracker Suite at THEATRE DES CHAMPS-ELYSEES of the Ballet de L'Opera National de Kiev on the day before Christmas.

A glorious performance by Kiev Russian dancers raised the spirits

Post-ballet doodles in a new sketchbook

Then we waltzed into nearby Hotel Plaza Athenée - hotel bears were taking it easy

While guests worked the courtyard rink.

We worked on a vertical buche de noel, all vanille top to bottom.

Out on Avenue Montaigne the light show continues.

Paris night lights at Christmas are just as glam as in New York

Animated Christmas tree 'Rockettes' shake a leg in Le Bon Marché's windows

Inside live shows perform every 20-30 minutes.

A song and dance team harmonize American carols in French

The simple tree decor was the best department show in town

My so-called 'staff' took up residence offering specialized last-minute Artisanal gifts.

Tie a Guerlain ribbon on it.

Temps dropped today in Paris from mild to more like New York. 32 degrees, feels like 29. Golden mittens would be perfect, plus a golden Marie Antoinette lollypop...

Bears are big in Paris. I moved to the right place.

More show biz acts get the joint jumpin'

A show-stopper shopper. You should have seen the luxe dog beds at Bon Marché.

Instead of the traditional yule log, why not a baked Alaska or as the French call it'Omelette Norvegiene' filled with ice cream. Last night returning from Jane's, a flashy light show inside Saint Paul in the Marais. Lights Action Camera!

I hope you all had a lovely day.

With love 💋 from Paris 🐻 Xxx

Bear visits Versailles

THANK YOU PBers for all your lovely letter orders. On Thursday Bear insisted we escape addressing envelopes briefly and do a quick run to VERSAILLES.

*ALERT! Do try to take the correct RER C to station VERSAILLES RIVE GAUCHE rather than station VERSAILLES CHANTIER. You will save oodles of time...over an hour vs. 38 minutes. We did get to sketch Louis-Philippe on the train to pass the time.

FYI bear in mind station Versailles Rive Gauche is a much shorter walk to the chateau too.

Since you'll be walking a hell of a lot anyway its best to take into consideration.

I always seem to hit the gift shop first. It puts you in a Marie-Antoinette state of mind don't you think? What we all need now is gold-covered chcocolate lollypops. A bright idea!

Someone in the comments asked about bougies. The French are obsessed with perfumed candles. The huge bougie on the left goes for 169€ Check out on Youtube, VERSAILLES' DIRTY SECRETS - TOUTE L'HISTOIRE, perhaps too much information on the use of perfumes in the 18th century.

Nina's fabulous Marie-Antoinette teas come in a luxe travel box. All you need take of you're flying over on Norwegian Air non?

Such pretty soaps etc. Perfect gifts for christmas if you're not sending letters from Paris...

Here is the top, top secret about Versailles! Go on a chilly winter day in the AFTERNOON.

You will have the place more or less to yourself. The morning mass of tourist coaches have left the premises.

When my back was turned (and the guard's) Bear hopped onto a l'interdit/forbidden settee.

We both would have loved to take a closer look at this gorgeous portrait but the velvet rope and the guard were looking.

No crowds. No one blocking your view. Definitely visit Versailles in the afternoon. And three hours is enough to see what you want before total exhaustion kicks in.

Besides you do not want to miss the town of Versailles a few blocks away on rue de la Paroisse.

Next year I promise to write JOYEUX NOËL on the Christmas letter and not Bonne Noël. Leçon learned.

Don't miss the big covered marché in town either, open everyday until 7:30 pm

I was compelled to buy the raspberry tarte on the right, since I resisted temptation in the gift shop.

Sketching another Louis on the correct RER train returning home...

You come out of St. Michel station to be greeted by the tree at Notre Dame!

Bear 🐻 wishes everyone all the best for the Holidays and the New Year !!!

From Paris with love ❤️ XXX

A Rococo Christmas letter

For the rest of December you can BUY A SINGLE CHRISTMAS LETTER (Rococo style with your name hand-written on it), the NOV Advent letter or 'Have fun in Paris Noël map. Random Paris goodies will be included in the envelope of course. Bear dragged me over to the very rococo patisserie, MEERT on 3 rue de Jacques Callot 75006 just off rue Mazarine.

Some bears can not get enough Paris pastry. Some bears should be sleeping instead of drooling.

Well let's face it. Just about everyone is leché-vitrine (drooling) at Meert. And Saturdays their special pastries arrive fresh from Lille.

Put one foot inside magical MEERT and its like a time machine. Candies of yore beckon. And jams, biscuits and teas.

Lovely chocolate bears with marshmallow inside.

The packaging is so whimsical you find yourself buying boxes just for their beauty.

Well some people do...

Such eye candy with edible candy inside.

Big enticing jars of jam/confiture call out your name.

And don't forget their famous gaufres. De Gaulle's favorite cookie (delivered to him fresh every Friday). I wanted the yellow box even if I am a bit tired of the color yellow. No way José. You can only get lemon/citron waffle cookies in summer time if you please. Meert has rules and sticks to them assiduously. Perfection does not come wothout a few bumps in the road.

Bear insisted on a Selfie in Meert. Such a teenager...

Bear has been invited to the Nut Cracker suite the day before Christmas. He is thrilled to bits.

With our mutual obsession drawing loops and arabesques, the December letter had to be Rococo. Though first we tried three or four other themes. Adding in the fun tree ornaments from ASTIER DE VILATTE helped. Their boiled egg in a cup is on the letter art if not on my table...see top left.

Well thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. You can get the single December Parisbreakfast letter, map or watercolors in my Etsy shop.

WITH LOVE FROM PARIS! XXX BEAR 🐻❤️