Let it snow let it snow let it snow....

So today we were sent to YSL to look at one of his collections with indian inspirations (we hadn't a clue where we were going: great start). By chance we bumped into a native that worked there and were lead through our first parisian snow storm to our destination.

To be honest I was glad to be out of the snow but found the show distinctly dull and most unhelpful in terms of helping us with our up and coming brief. (Needless to say my friends and I made a swift exit after realising that the gift shop was almost as useless as the exhibit).

On our way to the Musee Baccarat, which by the way was stunning and intriguing but disappointingly small, we stumbled upon a little market where we indulged our inner shoppers and bought matching bobble hats to keep warm and some crepes to keep us going.

Having spent two and a half days in Paris there was only so long we could go without craving shops, having fulfilled our daily 'educational requirements' we hit the Champs Elysees. When we got out of the subway we couldn't see 2 feet in front of us, with only the shelter of an umbrella and the aid of some broken french we stumbled through the sea of white until we found a little cafe down a back street.

We walked in to be met by sheer silence, it would appear we'd stumbled in on a male dominated local. Nevertheless we sat and had some good old girl-time and stuffed our faces. Soon after we hit the shops and treated ourselves. As the evening drew nearer and nearer the general consensus was that a trip to "angelinas" the famous hot chocolate shop was in order. We headed back down to the Subway, on our way however there was an Allsaints-esque sculpture that i couldn't resist.......

 Angelinas - By nightfall we'd found the famous Angelinas and were drinking some of the best chocolat chaud i have ever had. The 3rd day was lovely, full of bonding and beauty and one i will never forget.

Let them eat cake....

Day two - Versaille glistening in the snow :)

Le deuxième jour nous nous sommes levés à silly o'clock pour visiter le palais au versaille; il était magnifique.

We got in for free because we were students, when the staff informed of us i don't quite think they realised how many of us there were....

Anyhoo we queued and went in, I'd been split off from my FCP girlies as their bus had gotten lost so i spent the day with my room mate, taking in the history and magic of the building where the last queen of france spent the last of her days. The tale of marie-antoinette is always one that I've marveled over as often as a child I dreamt of being the dauphine of france (I'm a scot to the core so don't ask me why i guess i was just and 8 year old with impossible dreams and too many books).

Versaille.

Below are some images of features or I found inspiring or beautiful.

The Hall of Mirrors.

The Queen's bed, 19 heirs of France were born in this bed, the last of whom was to the last Queen of France, Marie-Antoinette.

Le premiere jour...

Right so it's day one ( well half of day one). We arrived at the hotel earlier than expected at around half 11 french time. The journey had been durable but only just; I'd managed to bag myslef two seats together, that combined with the genius idea of bringing my pillow, i managed a good few hours sleep on and off. 

Determined not to waste a single minute in the city of love, I headed over to the FCP(the sister course to mine) hotel to meet my friends and we headed over to the tram stop. Employing my best GCSE french I determined which tickets we wanted to buy and how to get to the main train station. Following the advice of our course leaders we headed straight into Bastille for a much needed snack. 

(straight to the good stuff, we're from trent yeah that's how we roll...)

After this we headed to the Eiffel Tower, it was freezing but seeing one of France's most magnificent architectural trophies after so many years, was an opportunity i couldn't pass up. We trekked through the cold biting winds, until before we knew it we were at the foot of the tower itself, it was a shining beacon of hope in the darkness.

I convinced the girls to climb up the first to levels with me ( a 30 minute hike and no mean feat). We made it in about 20 minutes, taking in every moment and watching the vast array of lights and glittering structures expand as our horizons did.

After we got to the second level the girls bailed and i was the only one who made it to the top, it was absolutely beautiful. The lights spread for miles like a million candles flickering in the darkness; the experience was breath taking and I'll never forget it.

En Route....

Hey Kids so I recently hit Paris with my Course at Trent Uni. It was an absolute blast but in a school trip kind of way....

We left Uni at midnight on sunday night/monday morning on February 8th 2010. I was packed and ready early on in the day and headed to the boys' house to chill out before leaving. After a spot of 'Take me out' I grabbed my suitcase and my passport and headed down to our uni building; The Bonnington. I'll admitt now, I did not picture myself at 20 making a 12 hour bus journey to Paris, I'd much preferred the ideal of a young jet-setter. However, i found myself eagerly awaiting the two coaches' arrival as a well needed break was waiting for me aboard them.

We took the Euro tunnel to Calais and drove on to Paris....

Finally arriving in Bobigny at our hotel.