Posted on Dec 12th, 2011 in
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Haute Life,
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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas over here!
I'm really enjoying how festive the town has become. We've been going on a tour of the
Marché de Noël, or Christmas markets. About a week and a half ago, we visited the small, beautiful town of Annecy on the border of France and Switzerland and had a lovely time at their Marché de Noël.
![Picture 085](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-085.jpg)
Christmas market in Annecy
![Picture 065](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-065.jpg)
there were pony rides!
![Picture 084](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-084.jpg)
a caroling choir
![Picture 104](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-104.jpg)
ice skating rink in Annecy
![Picture 074](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-074.jpg)
decorations against a beautiful backdrop
![Picture 068](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-068.jpg)
le petit train to take people to different parts of the market
![Picture 111](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-111.jpg)
the enormous tree!
This past weekend, we visited the two Christmas markets in Montpellier: one in the Place de la Comédie and one in the Odysseum (which is much smaller). People have told us that they "aren't as good as last year" but we're enjoying them just the same. These markets are filled with stalls of clothing, locally made food and wine, toys, trinkets, and of course
Vin Chaud.
![Picture 127](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-127.jpg)
Marché de Noël
![Picture 129](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-129.jpg)
need a Christmas hat?
![Picture 131](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-131.jpg)
the French love their chouchous, little candied peanuts!
![Picture 134](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-134.jpg)
bands are set up throughout the streets playing music and christmas carols
![Picture 135](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-135.jpg)
love this little man, the marionette and the sleeping dog
And at the market in the Odysseum, there were performance choirs, face painting for children, and live ice sculpting! Now that was cool to see.
![Picture 136](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-136.jpg)
the tree in the Odysseum
![Picture 137](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-137.jpg)
hot, roasted chestnuts!
![Picture 149](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-149.jpg)
Odysseum Christmas market
![Picture 150](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-150.jpg)
a true art form. it was cool to see them make these!
Blue and white lights have been hung all through downtown Montpellier and there is a giant Christmas tree in the middle of the Place de la Comédie. Even though we likely won't get snow here, it just doesn't get that cold, it really does feel like Christmas is right around the corner.
![Picture 140](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-140.jpg)
in the Comedie by night
![Picture 146](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-146.jpg)
the giant tree in the city center
![Picture 142](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-142.jpg)
love all these lights
![photo (11)](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/photo-11-1024x764.jpg)
the lights in the Antigone
![Picture 147](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-147.jpg)
gorgeous lights in the city center
![Picture 148](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Picture-148.jpg)
the main street in the center of town
I'm all finished with my shopping and shipped off the gifts this afternoon, which was an interesting experience. This is
definitely the earliest I've ever finished my shopping (
seems like there's always something that sneaks up at the last minute!) but I didn't really have a choice since I wanted the packages to arrive back in the U.S. in time for Christmas.
Here in France, most people have their big holiday celebration with presents and a special meal on December 24th. We were invited to a dinner with our friends that night, but unfortunately we won't be able to make it because we'll be returning from our trip to Italy that day. That's right, Hub, Figgy and I are taking a week long road trip through Italy the week before Christmas. We'll be making a big loop and headed to Riomaggiore for 1 night, Florence for 4 nights, Lucca for 1 night, and Turin for 1 night. Neither of us have ever been to Italy before and we're really excited to check it out. (
Please send recos our way!) We'll be back late Christmas Eve, just in time to celebrate back in our home.
We'll be gone for awhile leading up to Christmas, so we didn't get a tree, but we managed to spruce up the apartment a bit anyway and get it in the holiday spirit.
![photo (10)](http://thehautehousewife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/photo-10-1024x764.jpg)
our festive little mantle
We'll arrive back on Saturday night and everything will be closed on Christmas Day, so I'm planning to stock up on pantry ingredients to make a yummy chili for Christmas dinner and obviously lots and lots of wine.
How will you be spending the holidays?
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