Tag Archives: people

Christmas in Riquewihr

Christmas in Riquewihr
“Christmas in Riquewihr” — People stroll along an evening street with Christmas decorations in Riquewihr, Alsace, France.

Just about a year ago, in November and December of 2024, we spent six weeks getting into the holiday spirit in Europe, spending time in Germany, France and Spain. The photograph comes from the Alsace village of Riquewihr, where we spent a few days in a part of France that was new to us. Not surprisingly, the place was all tricked out for Christmas.

One reason to visit Alsace on this trip was that we drove down with relatives from Germany — this region and Germany are close geographically and culturally. (As I understand it, the local dialect is deeply influenced by German.) It was a charming region, at least in the less-busy winter season. It is filled with small villages, separated by vineyards in many places, and it has a wonderful local cuisine.


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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


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A Riquewihr Christmas Tree

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.

Narrow Street, Evening

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.

Bean People

Bean People
“Bean People” — Visitors in front of and reflected in the surface of “Cloud Gate” (aka “The Bean”) in Chicago.

The “Cloud Gate” sculpture is an icon in Chicago. Located in Millennium Park, it attracts hoards of visitors. I’ve been there more than once, and I encountered crowds each time — including on this rather cold November day. It seems that no one can resist interacting with their distorted reflection!

We had wandered through less crowded parts of the park — and those were easy to find in the cold weather. We saw beautiful rows of trees, some shedding autumn leaves, and then walked out to the Lake Michigan shoreline. We headed back into the more popular areas of the park looking for something warm to drink and paused for a few minutes at “Cloud Gate” to see the object and, perhaps even more, watch the people.


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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.