Winter Wonderland

Yesterday was just that here in Paris. Although it has been rather cold here for the last few weeks and we have had snow showers almost every (gray) day,  December 8, marked the true start of winter here. Around 11am I looked out the window at the office to see GIGANTIC white fluffy flakes falling in all sorts of directions. The snow doesn't come down the same way it does at home, at least it doesn't seem to. The flakes were big and almost looked like mini snowballs falling from the sky. For the first time this winter, and after many snow flurries, the fluffy little buggers actually stuck aroudn and started to accumulate, which in turn began to throw the city (especially the airport) into a slight state of chaos. It was a risky walk home yesterday as there were people waiting with piles of snowballs to attack their friends as they turned corners and walked down stairs, the grocers on Rue de Levi (my little market street) scurried around to keep the fruits and vegetables from being covered and almost everyone had their faces covered with the scarves and umbrellas up to keep the flakes from their faces. I thought walking in the cold was a bit intense, but walking around in inches of snow (in what I thought were waterproff boots) is even more intese. One might even say it's a bit of a resistence workout!!! It was a beautiful site to see though for the day - even though this morning the sidewalks were deathtraps of ice and slush and the awnings covering the shops were dripping down icy cold drops of melting snow into my hood. I managed to find a few photos ... next time I will have to pull myself away from watchign the snow fall and my fuzzy blanket and go take some photos of my own...

People walk through the snow in Ville d'Avray, west of Paris, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010, as a snow storm disturbs the traffic in the French capital. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A woman and a girl are seen near the Eiffel Tower after snow fell on the French capital, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010. (AP Photo / Jacques Brinon)

A jogger runs past Notre Dame cathedral, under the snow in Paris, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010, as a snow storm disrupted traffic in the French capital. The padlocks on the railings of the bridge are left by lovers who lock their padlocks onto the fence and throw the key into the Seine river as a symbol of enduring love. (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)

Notre Dame cathedral is seen under the snow in Paris, Wednesday Dec. 8, 2010, as a snow storm disrupted traffic in the French capital.(AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)