Easter weekend I celebrated a landmark birthday - turning the big 30.
I, quite notoriously amongst my friends, do not have typically good birthday's. Breaking bones, family members passing. So this year i was determined to do things a little differently. Instead of waiting for the day to pass, I wanted to go away. Mercifully a good friend of mine came to the rescue. Being a student means money is tight and trying to go away over Easter is not the cheapest time of year. But my dear friend suggested her home city of Paris. All I needed was to pay for flights and have some spending money.
PARIS!!
What a beautiful and vibrant city it is, with so much culture and history!
Day 1 was marked by a trip to Versailles. Pictures do not do that palace justice, it is HUGE. We spent a glorious 7 hours wandering around the palace and the exquisite gardens. In mostly glorious sunshine, the water features were mesmerising to watch.
Day 2: we ventured into Paris. Wandering all over the city, we started at the Trocadero, taking pictures of the famous landmark of France, the Eiffel Tower. From there we walked down the Seine, taking in the sights. Walking past the Grand Palace, seeing the Champs Elysee and Arc De Triomphe, then wandering down to the place de la Concorde, passing through a peaceful garden to the Carrousel de Lourve and the Pyramide de louvre. We then wandered some of the back streets and found a quaint restaurant for lunch before moving on the the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Justice Palace and the flower market. As beautiful as you could imagine. We meandered to the Centre Pompidou before walking back across the city to see the Opera house! Absolutely marvellous, but exhausting day!
Day 3: We were less adventurous and visited the Sacre Coeur and the surrounding areas. Such a bustling part of Paris, a very beautiful area, with talented street artists, and the obligatory tourist shops, all selling art work, mass produced oil paintings. Whilst they are nothing of value a few caught my eye and I have purchased them as reminders of the lovely weekend. Sacre ceour itself is a beautiful whist stoned church with some of the most intricate art work inside. The colours are so vibrant and alive. The view from the top of the hill of Paris is breath taking, with the sun appearing at the most perfect moment.
Day 4: It rained at lot. Until we got on the Plane that was.
A truly remarkable way to spend a birthday in lovely company, and my friend arranged a surprise at the airport with a mutual friend joining us for the brief vacation!
Sadly as always, the return home is met with a return to reality!! And a huge pile of laundry that i didn't bother to do before i went!!
And home to a few facts. Several family members haven't bothered to remember my birthday (you know, the type that will create a massive fuss if you forget theirs - we all know someone like that). And a wake up call from my Personal Trainer. We did a full body MOT just before Easter. My body fat has remained the same as previous measurements, but my weight has gone up a lot and more worryingly my blood pressure is rather high (though i got this tested after my short break and it is ok - but it could be better). This is evidence that the approach i was taking to life and training isn't working for me. So i will be drawing up a new battle plan.
Watch this space!
