Wow the last few weeks have certainly been full of more exciting things!! Since I last checked in my MUMMA has arrived, and boy was it so good to see her. Four months of just Skype dates really isn't this same. After returning from the airport and showing her around the house we had no time to spare as we needed to pack for our first big adventure together... PARIS!
The next day we were up bright and early ready for our journey. We caught the Eurostar from London Kings Cross right to the heart of Paris. The train ride lasts about two and a half hours and is so smooth. It's crazy how easy it is to get from country to country around here. After a little struggle, we finally found our hotel 'Holiday Villa Lafayette', small but nice and in a good area. Although I'd hate to see a taller or larger person try and shower in the small bathroom! We dropped our bags and headed down the road to the Galleries LaFayette, a huge (and I mean HUGE) shopping complex. Think Chanel, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton and endless amounts of clothes, makeup, jewellery and of course the most important part FOOD! I ate the best olive bread baguette and passion fruit macaron. After a short rest it was time for dinner and more food. We found a small restaurant close to the hotel that served typically French food (not touristy). I had French onion soup (not something that I would usually order , but hey its Paris). The soup smelt divine and tasted just as good especially with the bread that came with it. We also had french champagne, yum yum! Mum and i shared a plate of Foie Gras which she had been craving all day, and it didn't disappoint! She also had Duck with yummy small roast potatoes. Mum isn't a potato person either so they must have been good. After only one day, we have decided that we love french bread! It is SO much better than ours. Also that everyone in Paris smokes and the men are as good looking as they say! The customer service is non existent, especially in cafes and restaurants, there not rude, but they just don't care!
Day two In Paris saw us head to Le Tour Eiffel, WOW!! Certainly one of the highlights! It really is so big, the line was to big to even think about going up so we decided we would head back later that night. In the meantime we jumped on a tour bus that took us to all the major sights. Champ De Mars, Musée Du Lourve, Notre Dame and Champs Élysées! Paris is very orderly and well laid out. The gardens are beautiful and it certainly isn't as dirty as what some people had said! We hopped off and walked down the entire Champs Élysées, stopping at a few shops on the way. We then made our way to Rue de Royale a very upmarket street in Paris, where we found Ladurée, somewhere I had on my list of places to visit. Ladurée has been around since the 1800's starting as a bakery and is now THE place for macarons and all things sweet! I had a Champs Élysées sandwich (like a 'club') with fattest French fries we had ever seen! The French certainly know how to do a good potato. For sweets I had a rose and raspberry macaron filled with French cream and raspberries...DELICIOUS! From there we headed back to our hotel via Galeries Lafayette. It was a quick pit stop before venturing out to tackle the Eiffel tower at night. We worked out quiet quickly how to use the metro (underground trains) so getting from place to place was easy and we walked everywhere! Seeing the Eiffel tower lit up was just as beautiful as during the day, we still had to wait about 2 hours to go up the top but it was well worth it. The elevator stops at the first level which is pretty high, we walked around and had a hot chocolate looking out over Paris, then it was back into the elevator to head right to the top (mum didn't enjoy this part very much, for someone who is afraid of heights she did VERY well)! She was more concerned that the lifts were all running of weights and a few pulleys!! So we were 301 meters high looking out over such stunning city. It was a very surreal experience.
The next day we headed off bright and early to the Louvre, somewhere mum had been looking forward to most! Surprisingly the line went super quick and before we knew it we were through the glass pyramid and inside. Neither of us realised how big it actually was, it is after all one of the biggest and best in the world! It certainly didn't let us down, the endless corridors of such beautiful art, we could have stayed all day. The highlight was of course Mona, she is actually so tiny a lot smaller than you think. I'm sure she was laughing inside watching all the crazy Japanese tourists gawking at her. Also the St Anne's exhibition by Da Vinci was veyr beautiful. We had a little rest at the museum cafe where we shared a ham and cheese baguette, something so simple yet words cannot describe how good it actually was, YUM! From the Louvre we headed to the Latin Quarter, a part of Paris known for its street art, students and 'locks of love'! We strolled around the cobblestone streets and the River Siene and made our way to Notre Dame cathedral. So so pretty surrounded by blooming pink cherry trees. We went in, lit a candle and just sat for awhile taking it all in. Yet another beautiful Paris landmark. Back to our hotel for a five minute rest before we headed off looking for somewhere nice for dinner. After much deliberation we settled on Le Coraile. To start we decided to share escargots (mum talked me into it)! We were hoping I wouldn't reenact the scene from Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts sends the snail flying onto the next table, I had never seen snail tongs before but by the 6th snail I knew what I was doing. They were a little chewy and full of garlic but at least I've tried them. I then ate some beautiful sausage from Lyon which my dad would have loved, as it was served with warm potatoes. We did try roast duck although the less said about that the better, it wasn't what I would call cooked! Lucky yet again the roast potatoes made up for it. Another glass of French champagne and I was one happy girl.
Day four saw us wake up feeling VERY fat so we walked the streets taking in more of the sights, We stopped in at Printemps (another shopping precinct) but just gazed as it was all to expensive. Then we went back to Galeries Lafayette where we brought some gourmet picnic food for our night. This is something I have ALWAYS wanted to do, a picnic at the Eiffel tower! Think Foie Gras, cheese, bread and champagne plus the sight of the Eiffel Tower, what more could you want?! I doubt we will ever have a better location for a picnic.
We decided that today we would head to the Palace of Versailles, which is about forty minutes away of the train. Of the little expectations I had it blew me away. I didn't know what to expect but boy was it big. The Palace was home to King Louis XIV, XV and XVI as well as Marie Antionette and the many other wives they had. We got to see Marie Antionettes original bed spread in her bedroom, the beautiful hall of mirrors where the WW1 peace treaty was signed and many other interesting things. It certainly made me a lot more interested in French history. The palace gardens where breathtaking. Two thousand acres down from twenty thousand originally! All the topiary, the way it was laid out and green 'rooms' plus the lakes and ridiculous fountains just made it incredible. You could spend days there and not see everything. We were very happy we decided to visit the Palace (thanks Tanya). That night i took mum to the Moulin Rouge. We got all dressed up and headed out. I had heard it was overrated and yes well it was. We were crammed into our seats and the dancing was VERY amateur, I'm pretty sure mum could dance better and if you've ever seen her dance, she's not the best (at least she has rhythm)! The gymnasts were great though as was the free bottle of champagne. It has to be done but certainly wouldn't hurry back.
We woke up a little sad as today saw the end of our Paris adventure. We will definitely be back and maybe even venture out to the country side.
Paris was absolutely beautiful, everything you imagine and so much more. Surprisingly not as dirty as what people say either. The customer service is pretty bad like everyone says and it is very €€€! But it was well worth it and to have done it with my mum, a dream come true.
After five days it was back to London, where it is still quite cold and miserable! Unfortunately I'm back working three days a week as I have to pay rent but mum is venturing out on those days and having a great time exploring. We certainly don't waste any time and I've taken her to see all the major London sights, the Camden, Portobello Road and Borough Markets (which was her absolute fave!) and the National Gallery. We got to see the original Sunflowers by Van Gogh and Waterlilies by Monet. Mum loves London and feels very safe here.
Today is the first day I've rung in sick for work since i have been in london. I woke up not very well. Unfortunately no work means no pay, hence being the first time I've done it. Mum is off on a tour of Dover, Leeds castle and Canterbury Cathedral today, which I'm a little jealous about! Can't wait to see the photos.
We have even more exciting things coming up over the next few weeks. On Friday we head to Edinburgh for four days and then the following Friday we are off to Bucchianico in Italy. That's where my grandparents are from and my mums family still live. I cannot wait to meet all of the family, and I haven't stopped thinking about the delicious food I am going to consume!! Then after that mum heads home (boooo!) and it's back to reality for me, but only for a few weeks before Lisa comes and it's time for Contiki!! This year really is flying by.
Unfortunately we've just found out we have to move out of house on he 21st of July, which is a week after I return home from Europe and a week before the Olympics begin! Not an ideal situation at all, trying to find somewhere to live in 5 days, but fingers crossed it all works out, well it has too!!
Anyway no doubt there will be another entry before mum goes home so I hope you're all happy, healthy and having fun and I will speak to you soon.
Lots of love
Au Revoir xx
