Hello Earthlings,
I'm aware that I have disappeared off the face of the blogging Earth but surprise here I am! My absence is down to Jack as he took me for a week away to Paris for my 18th. So I decided to do a little catch up post just about some of my favourite places in the beautiful city of Paris.
Eiffel Tower
I mean I guess this one is a pretty obvious one, if I had to choose one thing that I was determined to do whilst I was in Paris it would be to go up the Eiffel Tower. I was surprised that it only cost us just over €14 each to go right to the top of the Eiffel Tower yet it was about €18 for us to order the exact same thing in McDonald's as we would here in good old Blighty. I was obviously expecting the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower to be amazing but I wasn't quite expecting it to be quite as breathtaking as it was. The view of Paris made me think of a little town that you could build in your imagination. It still feels a little bit surreal to be able to say I've been to the top of the Eiffel Tower, it's so weird because it has been on my bucket list for a very long time and now I have done it and I don't think any amount of words could sum up the experience, even from me who can talk for England.
Notre Dame
I wasn't really aware of the Notre Dame before I went to Paris, I mean of course I had heard of it. Who hasn't? But I wasn't really sure what to expect so I went along with an open mind and for me this was one of my favourite places because it just completely took me by surprise. It took my breath away, quite literally as well because we walked all the way to the top and I'm not the most active of humans so my legs made a small cry after every step. Inside I just walked around in awe at the stained glass windows because the colours were so beautiful. Throughout the week we often found ourselves sat outside Notre Dame eating some sort of food (I practically lived of pain au chocolats) and I just couldn't stop staring at it. The history behind it completely baffled me. I definitely recommend putting Notre Dame on your bucket list and making sure you go on a River Cruise on the Seine to truly appreciate every angle. I'm not even sorry that I sound like a tour guide.
Shakespeare and Company Bookshop (and cafe!)
Being completely honest I had no idea that this little treasure existed until I boarded the flight from Doncaster Sheffield to Paris and was reading the Flybe magazine where there was an interview with Sara Pascoe who was doing doing a talk at this bookshop on Valentine's Day. Naturally, growing up with my family I have always loved reading so I knew I had to find this place. When I did I was in awe, I mean Jack kind of just followed me aimlessly and probably a bit relieved that there were English speaking people so he didn't have to shrug his shoulders and look baffled. I walked in and the place was just stacked high with books of all genres with that cosy feel of a true bookshop. I loved it. We went upstairs and although the books there were for reading and not purchasing there were so many different places that you could sit and curl up with a book. One room we walked into had someone playing the National Anthem on the piano with someone else sat with a cat - that bit was a little unusual and I do wish I had a picture of Jack's face at this moment. Another room had a poetry tea party, which I was fascinated by because anyone could go along and read poetry in English and the aim of it was to help improve people's English skills. I had to refrain myself from buying too many books though because I wouldn't have got them in my bag home. But I intend on returning.
Centre Pompidou
I loved this as a whole, the inside was all cool and stuff and this was the first place I had a proper pain au chocolat. Fun story, it took me ages to eat it because I had been ill that morning and threw up in a bin, classy eh? But the point I was to make about this is the creativity that surrounded it. We walked past the Pompidou every night to get back to our hotel and I loved how every night there were people sat with friends playing various musical instruments, I loved how one day there was a woman painting, I loved how there were so many people drawing different things and I loved how people were sat writing. It's such a mystery to know what inspires someone else but I loved walking through the square outside the Pompidou and just seeing so many forms of art.
Louvre
I didn't see a fraction of the Louvre as I wanted to as it turned out Jack was very bored and slumped behind me carrying my coat whilst I looked at various things. There was one thing we did see whilst we were there though and that was the Mona Lisa, I can't believe that I have seen the Mona Lisa. It was THE Mona Lisa, I don't know how else to put it. I'm not knowledgeable on famous paintings in any shape or form but I can't believe I have seen the actual Mona Lisa. Jack, of course, wasn't quite sure what the fuss was about so as me and dozens of other people stood staring at it in a very sort of "pinch me, I'm dreaming" kind of fashion Jack just said "I don't get what the big deal is". So, we decided to call it a day and I told my mum I would have to go with her instead because it was wasted on Jack.
There were many other amazing places and things that I saw in Paris but I thought I'd not ramble too much...maybe another day.
I hope you enjoyed my little old-school ramble type catch up post thing.
Until next week,
Lia x
P.S. By then I'll be 18 so we can make next weeks post a party. (I'm not sure if that is possible but hey ho)
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