Productive Jan 1st

So usually my New Year's Day is a hungover sofa bad food film day. I'm classy and grown up and enjoy a good New Year's Eve night out so it really is the only option. 

Yesterday however was possibly the worlds most productive January first... Ever. As my sister was visiting me and we I had to work some of the time here we inevitably wanted to do something fun on my day off. We started with a little lie in, necessary after sleeping at 4:30am after a long walk home because people on the night bus had a fight!! 

Once were up and ready we went straight to Sacre Couer in Montmarte. My sister likes it up there and hasn't been here for 6 years. We managed the million stairs (just), bustled past tourists and saw the view. It was really lovely. Also needed a stop for coffee and Nutella crepes too. Just to stay warm of course!

After took the urine infested metro, possibly made worse after NYE, to the Eiffel Tower and wandered through the park. I still love looking at it! After we found our way through the throngs of tourists queuing to go up the tower we walked up to the trocadero and then along to the arc de triomphe. Once there we had to do an obligatory selfie as our mum and other sister had whatsapp'd us about watching sound of music. 

After a short walk down the Champs Elysees we decided to go home. We are both getting old and needed a break! 

Later in the evening we had a 3course dinner and wine down my favourite road Rue Mouffetard. This was of course followed by a purchase of more wine. Then we went to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle at 11pm from the Pantheon in the 5th. It's a really nice view from there. Lots of Christmas lights, the Luxembourg park and 'Parisian' architecture. 

All in all a great start to 2014!

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...?

Parisians - observations on a different culture!

I've been thinking about writing this for a while now and I'm sure I'll add more to it in the future. Making observations, listening to conversations and having conversations with the Parisians. I've noticed a few things that the Parisians have in common and seem to be considerably different to England. Here we go...

• Scooters - To be more precise adults on scooters. Not the motorized ones, the push style ones. They seriously consider it to be a useful transportation method. Serious business men in suits, mothers and children, young, not so young. So many people use them! Anyone above the age of 9 should reconsider unless severely drunk or playing with children!

• Black - so much black!! The clothes are so safe here with lots of neutral tones and black, classic dressing in black, summer clothes in black. I may be over exaggerating a little but it is definitely common to be neutrally dressed. Many French have commented that my clothes are very colourful and different. However in England I would consider myself a 'safe' dresser. But then it's also often commented that Londoners are ... Eclectic with their clothes. For me eclectic is ok. Parisian chic is ok. But I think some colour and patterns are good. Too many, not so good!

• Imaginary spitting. This sounds gross but I can't come up with another way to describe this. Whenever the French don't know something they shrug their shoulders and pretend to spit/make a popping sound with their lips. It is so common I've started to do it!!

Sunday Morning in Paris

Lots of people romanticise about places they've visited and think they're amazing and I'm sure some of the time it's not too different from where they live. I probably did that with Paris before I came. With just two trips, totalling 5 days, and countless movies I decided this was the place for me. 

There comes a point when you have to admit things are not all rose coloured and perfect. And whilst it has been difficult to move to another country sometimes I'm reminded why I did move here. 

This morning I woke up at 7:30 (a recently unheard of hour) and after my healthy breakfast of yogurt honey and oranges I decided to go for a walk. I left at 8:15 to wander in a very quiet Paris. 

People out running, buying baguettes and croissants in boulangeries, the homeless moving to their begging spots ready for the people still without breakfast. As I got closer to the centre some restaurants are open with one or two people having breakfast. It's so quiet! 

I then walked along part of the seine from the expensive tour d'argent restaurant (not sure on spelling) to the park behind Notre Dame cathedral. I've never been in the park before as it always looks hideously busy with tourists. I try and stay away from tourists in general, like I have in any place I've lived. 

I'm glad I came. The sun is out but it's too early to be boiling. Not a cloud in the sky. A few early morning tourists. A few people just sitting around like myself. A busker playing peaceful guitar music. It's perfect. Earlier the bells of the cathedral went and I remembered I was in the centre of a capital city. 

So, in conclusion, yes Paris is not always perfect and living abroad can be hard as hell. But, sometimes, it's beautiful. 

Diwali Paris - Jewellery Store Review

Diwali Jewellery Store - Paris

Since I have moved here I have done very little shopping (being a part time worker in an expensive city) but I have done lots of window shopping. You might even say 'Je suis Le expert'. 

One shop I have discovered in this city full of Chanel, Dior, Tiffany and H&M (pronounced 'ash ay em') is Diwali - Paris. It is a cute little jewellery store that I have fallen a little bit in love with. As the name suggests the jewellery is Indian style with lots of sparkle, gold, colour and patterns. Which is exactly why it is my sort of store. That and my general love of jewellery. Additionally I think that it is reasonably priced, prices seemed to be around 5-20 euros.

They sell necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, slippers and other trinkets all beautifully presented. The stores I have been in are always so tidy, it is how I would set out my jewellery cupboard if I was a billionaire, and the staff are very friendly. I enjoy the fact my necklaces will only get in a tangle once I'm home and not before I have bought one!

When my Mum came to visit me a few week sagos I was lucky enough to be treated to something and I had to choose the bracelet. It's definitely one of my favourite colours, although I nearly got the pink one as they had a few colours, and the beads were really nice. I've worn it loads since I bought it so I'm sure I made the right choice. Usually if I'm in a jewellery store like accessorize etc I try and buy as much as I can afford so choosing just one took some doing! Once you have bought an item they put it in a cute little bag which I now use to store my stud earrings as I have a tendency to lose them. 

I definitely recommend a look if you are in Paris and looking for some pretty costume jewellery. Not too cheap and not too expensive. Perfect!

My lovely bracelet!

Store Locations

Ron Mueck Exhibition

At the weekend I was invited to go and see an art exhibition near me so I was really excited. Not only did it mean meeting new people but I also love art, even if my judgement is completely emotional and I have no real knowledge about art. 

For example - I HATE Henri Matisses' 'Snail'. Correction - I HATE that it's so famous. It's a paper collage that's really big. It looks nothing like a snail (I realise that this is OK sometime). It looks like a 4 year old did a 'big art attack'... in the dark.

Anyway... Yes I like art and I had never hear of Ron Mueck (apparently he's famous and from London - who knew?) so I was eager to go and see what it was all about. It was at the Fondation Cartier on Boulevard Raspail in the 14th. The first time I walked past the building I was a little taken aback... There is a huge glass wall and behind it is a garden, then in the middle is a building where the exhibition was held. 

When we got there we queued for 1h45m! But on the plus side it gave me a chance to talk to my friend (I've now met her 3 times so for Paris that makes her a friend!) and meet her friends. I managed to catch on to most of the conversations they had in French and they spoke English as well. 

Exhibit Review -
I loved the exhibition! It's these out of proportion sculptures showing sometimes mundane things and sometimes odd things. The detail that goes into them is astonishing. The people are so lifelike but out of proportion. It's so interesting to look at. There is also a video showing how Mueck created some of the pieces in his North London studio. It was really fascinating. The program explained what each piece was conveying but I personally just like looking at art and seeing how it makes me feel and how pretty/interesting it is. I give this one a definite 9/10 for interesting and recommend seeing it if you are coming to or live in Paris. 

the website is - fondation.cartier.com

My program - the English version.

Me (on the right) and one of the sculptures. This one can be seen from the street but is incredible up close!

View from the street through the glass wall, across the garden and into the glass building.

Mother/Daughter time in Paris

I always knew that my Mum would be the first person to come visit me in Paris. In fact I should have bet on it to earn some money!! So when I found my new place she booked Eurostar tickets and came out just 5 weeks after I left London. (I realise it sounds like I'm moaning she came, I'm not - I love my Mum even if she is crazy sometimes).

We basically spent the weekend walking and drinking wine. It was brilliant. The first night she arrived and we got to mine about 8pm and we went straight to dinner near me. Spent the night chatting non stop!

Saturday we walked up to the Seine and had petit dejeuner near Notre Dame and overlooking the Seine. It was lovely and it was quite a nice day for the weather. We sat in a window and watched people go by. After we walked all the way along to the Eiffel Tower as my Mum said she wanted to see it. It was a long walk but I love walking round Paris. It might take longer but unless I'm in a rush I'll walk over using the Metro any day! Then we sat in the Champ de Mars and had an Ice Cream on the grass whilst looking at the Eiffel Tower. 
For the afternoon we went to Monmatre to see Sacre Couer (I've never been inside but the outside is very pretty.) We looked at the view and played 'Where's my house?' Then we went round near Place du Tetre and found an Irish bar to sit and have drinks and lunch. Well, it said it was Irish but other than serving Guiness it was the same as most other French pavement cafes/bars that I've been to! It was so hot and the wine was great, slightly too many street artists touting for work though. I mean, I know we're beautiful but you can't all have the pleasure of drawing us and charging 10-15 euros. For a start we watched a few and they weren't entirely accurate. I have a camera too so there was really no need!
Saturday night we went for dinner on Rue Mouffetard to a typical French place. I had my first try of snails! I have to say they weren't actually too bad. A bit like garlic mushrooms, but more rubbery, and you have to pull it out of the shell which was an odd experience. Almost like plucking a feather out of your Nandos before popping it in your mouth! After we went for more wine in a bar I like which opens onto a busy square. 

Sunday we went to the Tuilleries for Crepes. We sat in the sun round one of the ponds. Then we walked up the Champs Elysee and stared at all the shops. I love this mix of Louis Vuitton and H&M on one street. So busy there! Then we went to Saint Michel to find a spot in the sun for ... you guessed it! More wine and some salad. Once again very relaxing and beautiful. 
Sunday night we had dinner near Avenue Suffren and then went to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the park. Such a pretty view. As we walked through we saw the queue was almost non existent so decided to go up! (It was just after 10pm) Great night!!! Slightly too cold and windy for my floaty white dress but worth it.
Monday my Mum left in the afternoon after another obligatory walk and coffee in a brasserie near mine.

Perfect weekend visit for mother and daughter! Here are some pictures we took...

After our ice creams in Champ de Mars.

My Mum in front of the Eiffel Tower (yes it looks like her hat.)

House spotting from Sacre Couer. Can you see it?

In front of the Sacre Couer

Sunday night waiting for the Eiffel Tower to sparkle.

Me before it sparkled and before we went up.

Sparkle time!

Outfits from the past 6 weeks

Outfits from my time so far in Paris...

My 1st trip to the Eiffel Tower. Cold day so I needed something warm and comfortable. I also love to layer up!

A day on my course teaching followed by an interview. Smart casual, and I love this skirt. I want a maxi version but in bright yellow.

Feeling very tired and no where special to go means a long slouchy jumper.

Study in Starbucks day - Leopard dress, grey jumper. 
(Yes I realise it's not a great picture but I only have an iPhone to use.)

One of my favourite dresses and my pearl necklace.

BBQ day! Bright orange dress and a long gold necklace. Sadly not much sun until the day after!

White dress and black biker jacket for dinner near the Eiffel Tower and then my second trip up. Very cold but I had to grin and bear it!

Not my chicest outfit but I'm mostly in all day job hunting and blog writing so I've gone for casual!

More to follow (hopefully after some successful job applications)...
I love reading comments so let me know what you think.

Maria x