Essex girl in Paris continues...

6 months!!! I have been living in Paris for 6 months! It seems so unreal, but the good sort of unreal. I am starting to realise how much I have done, and what I have achieved since I've been here and also how difficult it has been. 

I've managed to find an apartment, 2 jobs and many friends. I've visited a variety of places. Eaten and drunk alot! Had a shitty time and an incredible time. Begun to learn a language which six months ago I could say nothing and now I can have conversations. I'm probably more confident but definitely none the wiser!

Here are some pictures to show you some of my life in the past few months...

Difficult to see but this is me and 2 girls in the Galerie des Glaces  at the Chateau de Versaille. It is beautiful there and I really recommend going! It is the room used when the Treaty of Versailles was signed to end WW1 and also in the J'adore Dior advert with Charlize Theron.

Outside view from the Pompidou Centre. Interesting art and a back drop of the city!

The Eiffel Tower by Delaunay at the Pompidou

Me as 'art' at the Pompidou

Another Delaunay at the Pompidou

Eiffel Tower from Pompidou

Sculpture outside the Pompidou

From Pont Bir Hakeim

A street carnival near Nation in July - lots of noise, music, dancing and people!

Fun fair in the tuileries!

Me and my friend outside Odeon for Fete de la Musique - It's a free musical event all over the city where people fill the streets play music and drink! It is packed and I recommend attending one year. A city full of partying!

Cocktails were needed at Fete de la Musique!

Relaxing in the Luxembourg Gardens

An almost beautiful view... If only I could see where I work!

Luxembourg

Me and my friend in the Luxembourg

Sunbathing at Paris Plage!

Many people at Paris Plage and the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Great idea but not so good for relaxing!

Work aka Montparnasse Tower - The tallest and ugliest building in Paris!

Me at Paris Plage

The Arc de Triomphe on my way to work!

Night out with work colleagues!

Dancing and drinking at Tino Rossi by the Seine - Perfect

I had been drinking!

Crazy dancing man!

 So... there you go. A few pictures of the many things I have done so far in my little adventure. Who knows what the next 6 months will bring...?

All moved in

Bonjour! Hope you are enjoying your weekend. I have no moved and I'm living in the centre of Paris. This makes me so happy! I moved last week and have loved being so close to the centre. My housemate is lovely and the flat is very cute, no state of the art modern flat but I love it. The kettle is even a metal one that we put on the gas stove. No washing machine either so I will have to get used to using a launderette! Not the worse thing in the world though. Compared to living on a sofa in the living room/kitchen this is a palace!

On the day I moved in I went to Pere Lachaise cemetery with my housemate and the girl that was moving out of my room. It was a little weird as I have never visited a cemetery for the hell of it but accoridng to my little guide book it's the most visited cemetery in the world and has over 1 million graves (I'm cheering you up aren't I). There are some famous people buried there though which is why its visited so much. It has Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison... (that's all I can remember for now). I didn't actually see any though but it was fairly pretty for a cemetery. It was nice to chat to my housemate though.

Yesterday (Friday) I had a really good teaching practice, an interview (I got the job) and then drinks and dinner with my course friends  I'm loving it here but need to start meeting some more people and earning some money. I've found a few fitness classes and obviously I now have a job too so I should start to meet a few people other than course friends and random people I talk to in Cafes. 

Tomorrow is the Paris Marathon which I will probably go and see, then maybe Sacre Couer for a bit before I start my mammoth amount of work for the last week on my course... wish me luck for the last week!

From A...

... to B

My new room in the centre of Paris

What I'll miss when I'm in Paris

Here I thought I would add a list of things that I'll miss when I'm in Paris. It's only 4 days away now and it's starting to hit me that I'm actually leaving. This nervous/scared/excited feeling is not changing yet!!

Anyway, here goes:

• My family (for obvious reasons)
• My friends, for laughs, cocktails, gossip
• My fake nephew, he's just turned 2 and will miss him loads,
• London cocktail bars, especially happy hour in Grace bar,
• The national gallery, great for art and also a free clean toilet in the middle of London!
• The Tate, love the warhols, Lichtenstein & Delaunay there,
• Wandering along the southbank,
• Nights out with my sisters - catching u, drinks, laughing and gossip,
• Knowing where everything is and being able to speak and read the language

Of course there are loads of positives as well like discovering a new place, meeting new people, finding new cocktail bars and galleries and things to do. I'm too excited! Hoping to learn French as well and will try really hard. Wish me luck. Xx

Me and my friends enjoying my leaving cocktails.

View from the National Gallery overlooking Trafalgar Square

View from one of the bridges - Cloudy London

The White Tower at The Tower of London

Tower Bridge

Me and Mum

Me and my sisters

Me and my little sister doing Up at the O2

My sisters

Me and my little sister doing our very best gypsy wedding dancing!

Me and Dad

The Audrey Hepburn quote that proves I'm doing the right thing!

Nearly in Paris

Sorry I haven't blogged for a week. I have had internet and organisation issues! aka - One week to PARIS! 

One of the things I have been struggling with is my packing. I have been trying to work out what I need for basically any time between 1 month and forever in one suitcase. It's pretty tough!

I've written so many lists for outfits, written what I'll be doing and therefore what I might need. It's so hard! I'll need outfits for working, relaxing, studying, sightseeing and going out. I've also decided to pack a summer suitcase to leave behind so that when my parents come to visit I will have some maxi dresses and flip flops etc.

Overall I'm thinking 10-15 dresses of varying smartness, 5 pairs of jeans/trousers, 20 - 30 tops and a few cardis/jackets. I just hope I can fit it all in the suitcase along with hairdryers, books, make up (I haven't planned the make up yet - it's just too upsetting), shoes etc.

Actually, writing this post has made me feel all stressed about it again... maybe I'll have some wine or ice cream to calm down!

Please can someone pack for me? I'd really appreciate it!

Maria