Notting Hill

After a relaxing morning, eating breakfast and watching TV we put our layers on, pushed through the crowds on the tube and arrived in Notting Hill. Portobello Road is filled with tourists, wacky locals and pastel coloured apartments. 

The stalls are small and jam packed with antiques, vintage clothing and fresh produce.  

We had coffee and lunch and Mum bought me some soups to supply me with emergency food for Leeds. 

The orange vdub filled with pizza

This is where I will live one day. A fuchsia door surrounded by a cream exterior, framed with a pink cherry blossom tree on the sidewalk. Such beauty. 

Euro Disneyland

Disneyland! Forty minutes on the train and we arrived at Disneyland, which seemed a few degrees colder than Paris. As soon as we walked through the entrance the Disney train came through with all the characters, it was so exciting. 

Space Mountain was the first ride we went on and it was the most frightening. 360 degree turns, unexpected stops and turns left my with tears down my face whilst in hysteric laughter. 

We made it our mission to visit each world so it was a quick stop at one or two rides at each. Between rides we had a pit stop for burgers and chips and were devastated when we walked past delicious pretzels after having terrible nuggets and chips. 

I left with so many questions as the sheer size and detail is so intriguing –Disneyland is literally a whole suburb dedicated to a world full of Disney characters and rides. 

So much fun!

Euro Disney

21st Birthday in Paris

Turning 21 is always a momentous occasion, filled with pressure on who what where and how you will celebrate your night. I don't think I could have wished for a more amazing way to spend my birthday. I awoke in Paris to an abundance of gifts and unforgettable memories.

My parents gave me the most amazing gift of all, our family trip to Paris - Love xx

Alex Munroe jewellery from Matt 

Ankle Boots and Leopard gloves from Fi

Parisian Canvas Painting from Em 

Too many gifts, completely spoilt rotten all day! 

I wanted to spend the day by the Eiffel Tower, strolling the streets with the Eiffel Tower popping up in the background. We climbed the Eiffel Tower and witnessed its amazing view of Paris - beautiful buildings on top of each other, narrow streets and stark winter trees. 

View from the top

Around the corner we had a delicious lunch, French onion soup and steak and frites were the faves. We then had a wander around the streets surrounding the Eiffel Tower finding Parisian bookshops and a beautiful Patisserie full of cakes. 

Squashed on the way home but still delicious!

We began the evening celebrations with a bottle of Moet and a slideshow of photos Matt and Em had prepared and surprised me with. 

Watching the slideshow Matt and Em put together including a video message from my bestie's at Cutting Edge Camille, Dani and Claire :) 

We dined at La Table D'Hediard Paris, a beautiful restaurant where we were greeted and asked for our coats at the door. The restaurant had a relaxing ambience possibly sue to the efficient and delightful waiter. The whole evening down to the food and wine was so very amazing. 

Entre Scallop Dish I had Matts serve as well - His allergy comes in handy for me

This was the veal main

Raspberry tart with a single candle

Emma's cake was thrown on her dress by the waiter. They were both mortified.

After an amazing evening we topped it off by sneaking Emma into the Andy Whaloo bar and drank Mojitos and Cosmos as my birthday came to an end. 

A Parisian Valentine's Day

Valentines Day! I was surprised at breakfast with a bouquet of red roses from my boyf. I surprised him with a slab of chocolate and 'love' toast while I gave the fam each their own individually chosen, gourmet chocolates.

After our romantic family buffet breakfast we hopped aboard a very windy bus tour of Paris, showing us amazing views of the famously beautiful Parisian sites. 

We disembarked at the Notre Dame church. Inside was filled with stained glass windows, gold markings throughout and statues and paintings that reflected the religious history of the church.

We explored the streets around the Latin Quarter that had restaurants squashed together with window displays of abundant seafood for 13 Euros in an attempt to entice tourists.

Boyf showing his new Chat Noir lighter amongst the hustle and bustle of the Latin Quarter.

We wandered through the back alley cobble pathways and found a pub style restaurant for lunch. Delicious baguettes were on the menu.

We climbed back onto the bus and continued past the Eiffel Tower and Champs Elysees, which looked like postcards from the top of the bus. The streets were filled with people bustling in all directions.

Valentines Day was not played up by the Parisians as I had expected, so we took it upon ourselves to celebrate in Parisan style with bottle of Pink Jacquart and some gourmet chocolates, whilst the boys went to the Pub for a pint of two.

Montmartre

We started the day at the St Ouen Markets, a huge tourist market with shady men pacing down each aisle whispering to you under their breath "nice Prada bag good price'. I felt slightly uneased by the characters that lurked at this market  so we soon moved on to adventure through Montmartre.

Montmartre is a perfectly picturesque town. The cobblestone footpaths are lined with artists sitting at their easels peacefully paining. The view is astonishing from the Sacre Coeur as it overlooked beautiful Parisian townhouses and buildings amongst the mist of the cold day. 

We visited a Parisian restaurant on the side of the street to warm up. Plates of steak and frites, pasta and salads were brought to us by an entertaining French waiter. As we walked out we noticed a girl with a baby turtle on her table eating a lettuce leaf – only in Paris.

The artists were intriguing, they sat behind their propped up paintings with dipping their brush into the blobs of paint. Em bought me an amazing painting of a Parisian café street for my birthday present, it had such intricate detail and colour.

On our way walking back to find  a cab a busker had enticed a huge array of people to sit in front of him and sing along with him out the front of the Scare Coeur – they all loved it.