Tag Archives: holiday

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Night, Photographs: Travel

A Riquewihr Christmas Tree

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A Riquewihr Christmas Tree
“A Riquewihr Christmas Tree” — A small Christmas display beneath a towering bare tree at dusk, Riquewihr.

Riquewihr, in the Alsace region of France, is one of those “too-cute-to-believe” villages, made extra so around Christmas, which is when we visited. Like many of the old villages here, it fits the expected profile of cute old villages, with an entrance through an old arch and many half-timbered old buildings lining a cobblestone street. Add holiday lights and it is almost a holiday sensory overload.

We stayed on the edge of the town for several days, so we could simply walk into the village. That’s what we did on this evening, when we took a stroll up and down the main street. I saw this walkway, with its great old bare tree and Christmas decorations beneath.

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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Travel

Two Buildings, Kaysersberg

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Two Buildings, Kaysersberg
“Two Buildings, Kaysersberg” — Two old buildings, one with Christmas decorations, in Kaysersberg, Alsace, France.

This is the second photograph that I have shared of the building on the right. Located in the Alsace town of Kaysersberg, it stands alongside the river that runs though the village. This building, with its colorful shutters and Christmas decorations attracted my attention first, but I also appreciated the contrast between it and the more rustic building to the left.

Kaysersberg is, like many other similar places in Alsace that we visited, a charming little town, especially during the holiday season when there are decorations everywhere and especially along the Main Street.

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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Travel

Narrow Street, Evening

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Narrow Street, Evening
“Narrow Street, Evening” — Evening lights along a narrow street in Riquewihr, France.

When we stayed at Riquewihr, France, in the Alsace region a month or so before Christmas 2024, our lodgings were just barely outside the center of the old town. We could easily walk over there and back. While the main street could be busy, side streets were nearly deserted. Here one of those streets is lit by lights on the sides of the buildings as dusk arrives.

Like many other towns in this part of Alsace, the place seems to thrive on cuteness — and wine, food, and other goodies. the Main Street, decorated with holiday lights, is where most of the visitors happily spent their time and money.

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G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email


All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.

Photographs: Europe, Photographs: France, Photographs: Travel

Marché de Noël, Paris

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Marché de Noël, Paris
“Marché de Noël, Paris” — Crowds at the Paris Christmas Market in the Tuileries Garden.

Last year’s late-fall and early-winter travel that took us to Germany, France, and Spain. We were in Paris for a few days about a week into December, and holiday festivities were in full swing. Stores had their decorations up, some streets had overhead holiday lights, and the Christmas markets were open. We briefly walked through this one at the Tuileries Garden near the Louvre.

Although the German markets seem to be the most famous — or at least the best-known in the United States — Christmas markets are all over Europe. Here it Paris it is the “Marché de Noël.” The basic idea is similar everywhere we went, from Germany to Spain. Vendor booths are set up in a public place, often a town square. They sell seasonal items, gifts, and local food and drinks. Mulled wine is the popular drink — vin chaud in France and gluhwein in Germany.

G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” (Heyday Books) is available directly from him. Blog | Bluesky | Mastodon | Substack Notes | Flickr | Email

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(All media © Copyright G Dan Mitchell and others.)