Capturing My Castle: Paris and Christmas

I thought I'd share some of my pictures that I took over Christmas and on my jaunt to Paris. Paris was the most wonderful thing I have ever done. I really romanticised being there at Christmas and being on my own, just wandering around and discovering beautiful things and it really lived up to my expectations. A few of the highlights were:

A man dressed in a suit and bowler hat who was juggling to entertain cars as they waited at the red light in Bastille.
Seeing Les Enfants Du Paradis (apparently the French Gone With The Wind) entirely in French in a tiny independent cinema. Everyone stood up and clapped at the end and I sat next to a little old lady who had smuggled biscuits into the cinema in her bag.
Hot chocolate and the view of Paris from Sacre Coeur
The no-nonsense attitude of the Parisians
The Dali exhibition in Montmartre
The street art in Montmartre
Just Montmartre in general!

I stayed in a hostel for the first time and although I found it hard to sleep on the first night I ended up really enjoying talking to people from allover the world. Although, I did get a bit sad every time one of my roomies moved on. I think there is a part of me that has a real issue with 'change'. I think this will be something I work on in the future...I need to stop getting so attached to people, places and things and be more daring. Now enough chatter and more lovely pictures...

Stocking fillers. I love the combination of plain brown parcel paper and bright ribbons. So cute!

Red wine spritzer on Christmas Eve

Paris street art

The restaurant in Musee d'Orsay. I didn't know that if you were under 26 you got into museums and art galleries for free in Paris. Considering I saved around 15 euros in admission fees I decided to still put my money into the gallery and bought my lunch there. It was the greatest meal I ever had. I had mushroom 'cappuccino' soup and the waiter recommended a red wine to me. I've always want someone to recommend a wine and it did not disappoint. I only drink red wine, but I usually get the 'shudder' after my first sip. I didn't with this...it was perfect. The highlight by far though was the dessert...

The best blueberry pie EVER.

Inside Musee d'Orsay

Carousel under the Eiffel Tower. I had a hot wine and talked in (very bad) French with a little old man who was taking an afternoon stoll. He couldn't believe I was in Paris alone...and unmarried!

The metro stations were beautiful. On my first trip from the coach station to the hostel there was a man singing La Bamba on the train. Each station was similar to the others, yet unique in one way or another. I loved the tiling and I almost wept at a man playing violin on one of the platforms.

Flea market treasures. An antique pierrot clown doll and a brooch.

Sitting on a bench watching the world go by in Montmartre

Inside Les Deux Moulins.

Cracking Creme Brulee...probably the most touristy thing I did.

Outside. This was my last night in Paris. So sad that I'm not there :(

Those of you who are familiar with South Park will recognise Clyde Frog. A handmade gift from my boyfriend. He was hidden inside a whistling kettle that was the other half of my present. So proud of him being so crafty and thoughtful. Homemade presents are the greatest.