Paris is always a good idea!.....

So says Audrey Hepburn!...... and that's exactly where we headed for Valentines Day. Yes I know that its a little twee but trust me you would never have known it Valentines Day in Paris in comparison to how OTT the UK does Valentines.
M has never been to Paris so when Eurostar sent me their £50 return deal I never expected to be able to book Valentines day but we did and that's where we headed. Starting off in the gorgeous station of St Pancras is always lovely and even with a 4am alarm call I was still greeted with roses and a card (definitely a keeper!)
We were booked on the 7am train and we left on time and started the journey with prosecco strawberries & cereal, arriving in Paris just after 10am. I had planned a small itinerary to give M a whistle stop tour of the city. The day was quite foggy and misty to begin and grey clouds loomed for most of the day, however this didn't deter us from having fun. A hike up the steps to the Scare Coeur was our first stop where we stopped to view the skyline of Paris. The walk down was easier which lead us past Galleries Lafayette and into the square of Paris Garnier the stunning opera house. We both said that we would come back for a few days and try to see the ballet there. Next stop was the Louvre which was packed, I think everyone was looking for options to escape the chill. Our escape was via Angelina chocolate shop for Hot chocolate which is just like molton chocolate! With this warming us up we headed towards the Champs Elysees to window shop and have some fun at the Arc de triomphe watching the cars avoid crashing.

With time running away with itself we headed across the Seine for our pre-booked time to ascend the Eiffel Tower. We only visited the 2nd level and didn't go to the top as it had sold out (everyone pre-booking for proposals!) this was fine with us as it was freezing by this stage.
We enjoyed exploring the side streets around the tower and look forward to returning when all the re-generation around there is complete.
Our final stop on our whistle stop tour was to see the Notre Dame which we managed to get to just before dark and before the rain started.
After walking the best part of 12 miles it was time to find a quaint French restaurant which we did along the river and have dinner before heading back to Gard de Nord for our 8pm train home.
Both of us loved the day and will look to go back for longer in the Spring.

Paris at Christmastime..pt quatre

My final part of my day trip to Paris was always going to feature shops!... Aside from the Champs Élysées the other famous shopping area is around le Galleries Lafyette.
Paris is famed for being the city of light and my walk through the city didn't disappoint as evening fell. The Champs élysées with its circular decorations and perfectly lit trees was both modern and Christmassy in its styling.
My walk through the side streets of Paris was filled with light installations and trees.

Paris has 2 big department stores ( the equivalent of our selfridges and harrods) which sit alongside each other. Printemps and Galleries Lafyette. Both vie for top billing and best christmas styled.
This year Printemps has been sponsored by Prada complete with Prada bears who feature in many guises along their oil day windows. The scheme is fun, stylish and very interactive for the children who come to see the windows. With the store facing and canopy festooned with red & white lights, it really is a Christmas spectacular.

The Galleries Lafyette facade is festooned with bright pink strobe lights and their scheme this year is all about time. The time spent before Christmas, counting down to Christmas and the time spent at Christmas. Each window depicts a different scene in a haze of characters that would not be out of place in a Lewis Carroll novel.
What GL lacks in visuals outside it makes up for inside, where its beautiful stain glass windows and circular domed room come to life under a glittering Christmas tree clock, sponsored by swatch. With various characters circling the bottom of the tree, they spring to life as the clock strikes the hour.... Magical.

A browse around both stores were much required if only to check out the competition!... Both were beautiful, but I think Printemps won the Christmas battle for me. ( what lady doesn't love a bit of Prada!)
This stop was my last on my round trip of Paris... My final destination after another epic walk was the station where i boarded my train and slept to St Pancras! (I calculated on my return that I had walked at least 8 miles across Paris during my day, so didn't feel so guilty about the decadent indulgences during the day!)

Paris at Christmastime..pt trois

After an indulgent Hot Chocolate in Angelinas it was time for more walking!.. This time I set off towards the Champs Élysées. At the beginning off this majestic road stands a huge carousel which is much part of the Christmas experience. I decided that I would take a ride. Although the sun was bright,the morning had been quite foggy and the winter clouds hung low in the sky. This seemed a better option of seeing some of Paris from above than climbing to the summit of the Sacre Coeur or ascending the structure of the Eiffel Tower.
The views were great and the experience fun, although would prefer that the seats were a little more stable and didn't rock in the breeze!

Once on firmer ground I ambled along the champs élysées where a huge Christmas market was set along each side of the busy road. The wooden cabins selling christmas wares were complimented with roasted marons (chestnuts) gingerbread, churros, cheeses and mulled wine, It was a feast for the senses.

The market stretched for at least half a mile, during the time I was there it wasn't too busy, however as darkness fell and the lights began to twinkle it became very busy. Once on the main shopping concourse my destination was Laduree home of the original French macaron. I know I can buy these back in the uk, and Pierre Hermes are as amazing, but I wanted to see the inside of the fabulous little green tea rooms as much as buy some decadent macarons.
Festive christmas box in hand I left the beautiful store and walked back along the market towards my last destination area - Galleries Lafyette.

Paris at Christmastime .. pt deux

My first area to explore on departing Gard du Nord was to head down towards the Bellville & Marais quarters of the city where I was to visit one of the city's most popular Boulangerie's ... Boulangerie's are ten a penny in Paris with most French people buying bread daily. Du Pain et des Idees is one of the boulangeries where people will que around the block for fresh bread and patisseries. The shop has been the home of the family since the 1960's and optimises everything you would imagine an old French bakery to be, with vintage tins & bowls. I purchased a pain au chocolate and a fromage & bacon croissant to eat on my travels. Both were amazing melt n the mouth deliciousness. At that point I decided to loose any sense of calories for the day.

My second stop was down a small cobbled side street which housed a home of eclairs which were beyond words! L'eclair du genie is a modern minimalist shop which showcases its eclairs like art work. I purchased 4 to take home .. Pistachio, raspberry, Yule log, & a clementine brown. All looked amazing and were a big hit back home!

From here I carried on my travels down across the river to the Notre Dame where they were getting ready for their tree lighting. The Notre dame is beautiful and has over the last few years undergone a huge restoration project. Here I ambled along the river Seine until I reached the bridge of locks which I crossed and headed into the Jardin's which housed the Louvree. Having seen the Mona Lisa on a previous visit I just admired the view.

Across the street from the Louvree and along the Rue de rivoli, my 3rd food treat awaited. Angelina's home of the hot chocolate!.... Served in delectable little pitchers  and whipped cream, I accompanied mine with a patisserie called Paris-New York ... A pecan, macaron & cream based patisserie.... Delicious... Angelina has the feel of an old 1920's tea salon, and I can understand why people Q to get in. The Hot chocolate is delicious, thick and slightly bitter, which when accompanied by the cream soon sweetens.

(It really wasn't a day for counting calories!) thankfully my adventures covered several miles in Paris which I did on foot.... Pop back later for Christmas in Part part trios.
Thanks again to Ed Kimber for two fantastic recommendations.

Paris at Christmastime - part un

This year with no holiday to New York planned I decided to book a trip to Paris to compensate. I booked my trip via my nectar points, which freed up more euros to spend in the city. Paris is renowned for its lights spectacular during Noel.

Having been to Paris a few times my agenda wasn't to do the 'normal' sightseeing. With a couple of hours spare on the train it gave me chance to plan my adventures and read an appropriately named novella! The lovely Ed Kimber from the Boy who Bakes had recommended 2 great bakery places to visit, so they were built into my plan. My plan was broken into 3 slices, Parisian food treats, Christmas sights & scenes and Lights spectacular.

My 7am train departed on time and we cleared the channel tunnel into me to see the sun rising across the French countryside. 

By this stage me day was mapped and I was immersed in my book The Parisian Christmas Bake Off which was perfect for the trip. 

Rachel finds herself in Paris the week before Christmas, pitted against 7 others she is competing for an apprenticeship with the super chef Henri Salernes. Rachel is not big on Christmas, but finds herself swept up into the romance of the city, holiday season and the competition.  Rachel's confidence grows as the week develops along with her patisserie skills. With a gorgeous Frenchman mixed into the bowl along with sprinkling of snow this is a magical Christmas baking tale.

Arriving into Paris at 10am I had a full day ahead planned..... With a glorious low winter sun shining in the background it was the perfect weather to explore.