A weekend in Paris

Last weekend I toodled off to Paris with Olly for a long weekend in the French capital. We went on the Eurostar, a easier and much more convenient way to get there than flying, and stayed in La Villa Royale. The hotel is billed as being "at the foot of Montmartre" but equally this means it's at the edge of the Red Light District and a mere stone's throw away from the ridiculously over-priced Moulin Rouge.

The hotel is perfectly located though, and each of the rooms are named after famous French people. We stayed in the lovely Maurice Chevalier room which overlooks Folie's Pigalle. Despite what the view from our window suggests, we found out that it's not actually a strip club as the red sign and devil lady indicates! And our hotel was perfectly respectable - honestly!

The weekend was full of countless yummy food, and big snaps go to Angelina where we feasted on yummy pastries and macaroons and sipped their world-famous hot chocolate l’Africain. It's a hot chocolate that really has to be savoured because of its bitter richness. It doesn't look like *much* above but, believe me, we were fit to burst.

We of course did the usual tourist things - cruised down the River Seine, walked around Montmarte, did the steep climb up to the Sacré-Cœur, took a trip up the Eiffel Tower, visited Notre Dame, admired the Arc de Triomphe, plus did a whistle-stop tour around the Louvre. There's this painting there, you see - I think it's called the Mona Lisa... ;)

Do you know what, the Mona Lisa is OK, but it's not as amazing as the building itself or all of the amazing sculptures that are housed there. I have to confess though, I was a little disappointed that we didn't get chance to pop next door and visit Les histoires de Babar exhibit at Musées des Arts Décoratifs. Babar!! Amazing! {^_^}

Unlike me, Olly had never been to Paris before, but it was lovely to show him the sights and for me to see them with him. Plus, I've never been to Paris in December so I got to see all the lovely Christmas markets dotted around and soak up the Christmas atmosphere. 

All in all, we had a brilliant long weekend, though I have to warn you that there is nothing romantic about going up the Eiffel Tower in December - it was utterly freezing! Still, at least our next holiday is on warmer shores. (India!) Until then though, we'll always have Paris. {^_^}

     

PS: I, of course, took a thousand lots of photos. Paris by night is up already, and I'll be posting the rest later this week. x