My Favourite Podcasts This Month | August 2018

Hey Guys! 

Over the past couple of months, I've been listening to podcasts instead of listening to music or watching YouTube videos while I'm getting ready in the morning. I love that with podcasts you don't have to physically watch it and can just put your headphones in or plug your speaker in and listen while multitasking. A few months ago I would listen to Estee Lalonde's podcast The Heart Of It while I was tidying my room or doing housework. After finishing her podcast series I started looking into other podcasts that I would enjoy, which led to me browsing through the popular section of Spotify podcasts. 

When I go to bed sometimes I struggle to fall asleep, so I've been finding different ways to help me relax. Sometimes I listen to soothing music or I put a Netflix show on just to have some noise in the background (I sometimes struggle to fall asleep when there is lots of silence. Bizarre I know!). After a while, I found podcasts were good to listen to when I couldn't sleep, so over the last couple of weeks, I've been switching between these three different podcasts when I'm getting ready in the morning or I'm struggling to fall asleep. 

On Spotify, there is such a huge selection of podcasts to choose from. There are so many different genres that there is something for everybody! 

(WARNING: SPOILERS)

Crime Junkie

I only started listening to Crime Junkie last week, but after a few episodes it automatically went on my favourites list. I'm a huge fan of murder mysteries and unsolved crimes/murders (highly recommend Buzzfeed's Unsolved True Crime videos with Shane and Ryan) so any stories of mysterious murders and bizarre crimes always capture my attention. When I first started listening to the podcast I wasn't sure if it would be as good as some other videos and podcasts I've listened to before about crime and murder. But the narration and stories are great! 

Crime Junkie is a weekly podcast where every Monday Ashley Flowers discusses a different crime story she has been researching. By dissecting all the facts and details she gives the full story behind the unsolved crime giving all the chilling information she has found while doing her research, which then leads on to who the suspects are and motives behind the crime or murder.   

The first episode I listened to was Episode 39: Serial Murder Todd Kohlhepp and straight away I was hooked! Ashley Flowers' narration is great. She gets straight to the point and gives all the facts straight up with suspense and chilling information. Each episode is different and the details she gives in each story is extensive and paints a full picture of the events taking place!

Some stories aren't as great as others and lack some suspense and thrill but I think that is more of a personal preference on what type of crimes and murder mysteries you find interesting. The Serial Murder Todd Kohlhepp was the most interesting I've heard so far due to the murders he committed and the number of people involved. Due to the fact it has more thrilling facts, I found it more gripping compared to other episodes. 

If you are crime-obsessed like me you'll love this podcast! They talk conspiracy theories, murders, wanted people and serial killers so definitely check them out over at Spotify. 

Happy Place

Happy Place is a podcast series by Fearne Cotton where she "talks to incredible people about life, love, loss, and everything in-between as she reveals what happiness means to them". Throughout the series, she discusses the subject of happiness, positivity and mental health with people such as Emma Willis, Gok Wan, Dawn French and Stephen Fry. It is a great series for those who need uplifting ❤

I started listening to Happy Place because I was looking for something that focused on positivity and getting over hardships. On Spotify, Happy Place is in their popular selection so I scrolled down the list and on seeing Dawn French pop up I clicked on her episode. I'm a huge fan of Dawn French from watching The Vicar of Dibley, French & Saunders, Absolutely Fabulous, Lark Rise to Candleford and from reading her autobiography a few years ago. I thought I knew a lot about Dawn French but actually, after listening to her conversation with Fearne I learnt quite a lot more about her and how she stays positive in the world of entertainment. Especially with divorce, journalists writing about her dad's death and her body image. 

I've also listened to Gok Wan's episode and I never knew he had such dark times in his life from his childhood to eating disorders and anorexia. He talked about when he left school because he got kicked out due to bad behaviour, working in his family's restaurant from the age of three and developing issues with self-confidence and body image. I've always known Gok to be a positive figure in entertainment, especially in helping women to learn to love themselves on his show How To Look Good Naked. But I never knew he had experienced such things as an eating disorder and had such a hard time when he was younger because he has always been so positive from what we see of him in the media and on television. But I think that just shows that nobody knows what is happening in someone's head and what they choose not to share. Gok Wan talks about many great things that keep him positive and it was so uplifting ❤

Another episode which really resonated with me was Stephen Fry's discussion with Fearne. As most people know Stephen Fry has battled with mental health for quite a while and now he is battling with prostate cancer. Listening to his episode was so enlightening. One thing he said was "why are we ashamed of the bodies we didn't choose to be given and have no control over" which I couldn't stop thinking about. He is so right and I think Stephen Fry is such a positive role model to those who have struggled because he reflects so much positivity. He has had the hardest of times due to coming out about his sexuality, getting criticised for marrying a man 30 years younger than him and then having to deal with his mental health and battle with cancer, and throughout this, he demonstrates how you can get through it with a positive attitude ❤

This series is great if you are feeling a little lost and need a boost to get you back in the right direction. Fearne Cotton narrating the podcast is great, she listens to each person's incredible story so attentively and lets them get everything off their chest without asking too many intrusive questions. 

Shane and Friends

Shane and Friends is a bit of an older series compared to Crime Junkie and Happy Place, starting in 2013 and ending back in 2017 with no new series appearing in 2018. Shane and Friends is also only available on Apple Podcasts instead of Spotify, so instead of my Spotify playlist, I also use my Apple Podcast app to listen to Shane and Friends and for looking up other podcasts that I might enjoy. 

 Narrated by YouTuber Shane Dawson and his co-host Jessie Buttafuoco (who is hilariously sassy) every Friday an hour-long episode would be uploaded which was described as "non-stop tea spilling, shade throwing and overall hilarity". Where Shane and Jess would "dig deep into the lives of their celebrity guests by asking brutally honest questions that others might not have the balls to ask". 

Shane has lots of guests on the show such as Joey Graceffa, James Charles, Tyler Oakley, Trisha Paytas, Tana Mongeau, Jenna Marbles, and the very well known Michelle Visage. He has had a lot of well-known influences on the podcast, most of them being fellow YouTube stars and some being viral internet sensations. The topics of discussion differ depending who they have invited on the show, so when Michelle Visage was a guest they discussed Celebrity Big Brother and Ru Paul's Drag Race. Whereas, with other guests, he'll discuss rumours that haven't been addressed, conspiracy theories, what is going on in popular culture, what is going on in their personal lives and what is happening with other celebrities. 

I haven't listened to all five seasons of the podcast as I tend to select the episodes I'd prefer to listen to with guests that I'm interested in, as some of the guests I'm not a fan of or the topic of discussion isn't something I'd find funny. The funniest one I've listened to is Episode 77 with Drew Monson and Garrett Watts, when those two and Shane are all together they are so funny and the conversation topics they have are hilarious! Another episode I really enjoyed was Episode 79 Conspiracy Theories and Trying Acupuncture because other than crime and murder mysteries I love conspiracy theories (especially Shane's conspiracy theory videos) so listening to different conspiracies is time well spent ❤

Shane's podcast isn't as PG as Crime Junkie and Happy Place as it is more of a comical podcast discussing crude topics and funny experiences, so there aren't as many serious topics discussed compared to the other podcasts I've been listening to. Shane and Friends is the podcast I go to when I need some comedy and something light-hearted to laugh about.  

Let me know in the comments below what podcasts you are listening to at the moment and if you have any recommendations ❤

See you soon!

Amy x

Books I've Bought Recently

Hey Guys!

There are so many books I want to read but unfortunately, I'm not one who can read four books at a time, especially when they are all of a similar genre. So instead I'm just going to have to work my way through the books I've currently got piled up on my bedside table. I'll do a separate post on my reading list but for now here are some books I've brought recently:

I highly recommend searching for the books you want in charity shops first before looking to buy them brand new, at least then you'll get a discounted price and you'll be giving money to a good cause. If you can't find the books you are looking for in your local charity shops try AbeBooks (you can buy literally any book second-hand and they are sold for amazing prices and most of the time postage & packing is free!) I've brought a few books from them now and they have only cost £2.65 each!

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

A lot of you will probably have heard of the Mortal Instruments franchise as Lily Collins starred in the 2013 movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones and there has been a popular Netflix season called ShadowHunters which follows the Mortal Instruments books by Cassandra Clare. When I was younger I was never really interested in the books (even though it is my favourite genre) but as soon as I saw the film I did gain some interest but didn't really think to go buy them until I started watching the series (if you haven't seen the series you should! It is really good). 

I was eyeing it up in the charity shop in my hometown for a while but because I have such a huge pile of books to read already I didn't see the point. But after eyeing it up every time I went in I decided to finally buy it (£1.99!) and now I'm desperate to read it ❤

The plot summary states "Clary Fray is seeing things: Vampires in Brooklyn and werewolves in Manhattan. Irresistibly drawn to the Shadowhunters, a secret cadre of warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, Clary encounters the dark side of New York City - and the dangers of forbidden love."

I already know the basic outline of the story as I've seen the movie and series which both follow the storyline of the City of Bones but I'm interested to see if they have missed any parts of the book out in the film and the series (like what I found in Harry Potter). There are six books in the Mortal Instruments series so I'll be purchasing the next book City of Ashes once I've read this one. I've found myself buying books that are all part of collections, like with Fallen and Harry Potter, so at some point, I'll just have to stick to one collection and finish all those books before moving on to other books. At the moment I'm halfway through the Harry Potter books, then I need to buy and read Torment which is the second book to Lauren Kate's Fallen series and then find the second book to this series and finish this collection of books (this may take me a while). 

The Interpretation of Murder by Jed Rubenfeld

I got The Interpretation of Murder in Paris at Shakespeare and Company in the second-hand section. My mum and I both chose to pick this book as we both love a murder mystery so we knew if one of us enjoyed it the other would. Shakespeare and Company did a great selection of books and this one stuck out, especially as it is about Sigmund Freud and his first and last trip to the USA (I read a lot of Sigmund Freud's work for my degree). 

The plot summary states "On the morning after Sigmund Freud arrives in New York City on his first – and only – visit to the United States in 1909, a stunning debutante is found bound and strangled in her penthouse apartment, high above Broadway. The following night, another beautiful heiress, Nora Acton, is discovered tied to a chandelier in her parents' home, viciously wounded and unable to speak or to recall her ordeal. Soon Freud and his American disciple, Stratham Younger, are enlisted to help Miss Acton recover her memory and to piece together the killer's identity. It is a riddle that will test their skills to the limit and lead them on a journey into the darkest places of the city, and of the human mind". 

I've read tons of books that are murder mysteries where people have disappeared out of nowhere and for me one thing I love is seeing the story unravel and everything making sense at the end. Something I always do is try and guess who the murderer is looking at the logic behind all the clues! So when I come to the end of the book and I guessed right I love it! Or even better the culprit is someone completely unexpected and was never even considered the person behind the murder. I've read a few Agatha Christies which got me into the crime genre. So, I think both myself and my mum are going to really enjoy reading this book! 

Recommended Books

I thought I'd add another section to this post for books I'd recommend you guys to read if you are into mysteries and crime novels. 

No Time For Goodbye

I read this book on holiday a few years ago when I got bored with the book I was reading, so I picked this one up from a selection of books my mum had brought with her. I didn't really expect must as I just looking for something different to read while we were sat sunbathing or on the terrace. But to my surprise, I could not put the book down! I was sucked in! I was constantly picking it up when I had a spare five minutes and it is actually the first book I have finished in one week. The story is gripping and I was desperate to know what was going on and what was behind the disappearances. 

Source: Wikipedia

The plot summary states "On the morning she will never forget, suburban teenager Cynthia Archer awakes with a nasty hangover and a feeling she is going to have an even nastier confrontation with her mom and dad. But when she leaves her bedroom, she discovers the house is empty, with no sign of her parents or younger brother Todd. In the blink of an eye, without any explanation, her family has simply disappeared.

Twenty-five years later Cynthia is still haunted by unanswered questions. Were her family murdered? If so, why was she spared? And if they're alive, why did they abandon her in such a cruel way? Now married with a daughter of her own, Cynthia fears that her new family will be taken from her just as her first one was. And so she agrees to take part in a TV documentary revisiting the case, in the hope that somebody somewhere will remember something - or even that her father, mother or brother might finally reach out to her . . .

Then a letter arrives which makes no sense and yet chills Cynthia to the core. And soon she begins to realise that stirring up the past could be the worst mistake she has ever made . . ."

Other than Agatha Christie's novels this was one of the books that got me into crime novels and mysteries. Unfortunately, I think we gave the book away for someone else to read but I wish I would have kept it so I could give it another read. It is hands down one of the best books I've read, especially out of all the crime and mystery books I've read. It's so fast moving and there are so many ups and downs!  

A true rollercoaster!

What books do you recommend? Let me know in the comments below ❤

See you soon!

Amy xx

What I'm Currently Reading | August 2018

Hey Guys!

After going to Shakespeare and Company in Paris my love for books and reading has been reignited so I've given myself the challenge to read a lot more books this year, so far I've completed three books! 

I'm currently reading two books at a time but luckily they are very different genres and one is pure fantasy/fiction and the other is fact. 

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K Rowling

Over the last two years, I've slowly made my way through the Harry Potter books and finally, I've got round to the fourth book! I have loved the Harry Potter films since they came out when I was younger but I never read the books until I went to university and set myself the goal to read all the Harry Potter books and Harry Potter and The Cursed Child.

I loved the first three books as it was just like re-living the films all over again but with more details that they missed out. The fourth book is considerably bigger compared to the other three so it is taking me a bit longer to get through but when you love the Harry Potter collection it is so easy to read and these books are the only books I've been able to read at a considerable speed.

One thing I've realised from the fourth book is that there are a few facts and events that the film didn't mention or show but I can see why they made the decision to miss them out as they are just small details and don't affect the main storyline (but they are fun to read in the books). Also, a lot of people didn't like the fourth film compared to the others but for me, I really enjoyed the Triwizard Tournament and meeting the other wizarding schools so I'm really enjoying reading this book in my spare time ❤

If you haven't read the Harry Potter books I highly recommend it, especially if you've watched all the films!

The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay

Back in Easter my parents and I went to Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes as it is now a heritage attraction and you can go and see where the codebreakers from the Second World War decrypted German codes. So, after visiting the heritage site and having a great time I wanted to learn a little bit more about the Government Code and Cypher School and what happened throughout the war (I'm very interested in the events of the first and second world war) so in the gift shop my mum brought me The Secret Life of Bletchley Park as she said we would read it after me (we are big fans of history and history books).

I'm about halfway through the book now and it is so good! I've learnt so much about the lives of those who worked at Bletchley Park and how hard it was to be a codebreaker decyphering messages and sometimes working three days straight without sleep to break a particular message and save the lives of thousands of people. 

It is an incredible book and if you are someone like me who is interested in the events of the second world war and you want to find out what was going on in the background this is a great book to read ❤

What books are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments below ❤

See you soon!

Amy xx

One Week In Paris: Photo Dairy | Part Two

Hey Guys!

From my previous blog post, you'll know that I've split the photo diary from my Paris trip into two parts because the first part was getting too long and there were so many photos. So here is part two of our trip to Paris back in June. 

Day 4: The Notre Dame 

On day four of our trip, we knew we wanted to visit the Notre Dame and some of the surrounding area, so like every morning we went to the local supermarket to get water and breakfast (croissant for me!) and headed towards the metro station. 

Notre Dame Cathedral

Arriving at the Notre Dame the queue to get in was huge but we read on loads of travel guides that the queues go down really quickly and they did! We were in the queue for around 5-10 minutes and then we were inside. The inside is actually incredible, and at the time we were going around the cathedral a choir was singing hymns which just made the experience very special. The famous three rose windows were beautiful ♡ and photos do not do them justice! 

We booked a time slot to go up to the top of the Notre Dame Towers so we had some time to spare before going back. Going back the way we came we went towards the Saint-Chapelle and La Concierge. We were originally going to buy tickets and do both tourist attractions but we were so hot and desperate for a drink, so we went to a cafe bar and relaxed for a bit (doing all this walking about was so tiring!). The time just seemed to escape from us and we only had a certain amount of time left so we continued to walk and headed towards the Luxembourg Gardens. But what we realised when we got there is that we had already been here before on day two when doing our Rose Line Walk! But we still sat in the gardens getting our lunch from a local cafe and then headed back towards the Notre Dame by passing the famous Pantheon. 

Booking a time slot for going on a tour of the Notre Dame Tower was so easy as we just put my phone number in and they text me a reference number and the time of our slot, so all I had to do was show them my text and we got into the queue. You had to walk up quite a few steps just to get to the ticket desk and gift shop but that was nothing compared to getting to the top (a total of 387 steps!). For the Notre Dame Tower, I got in for free like Versailles as I'm a student attending a university in Europe so my dad just had to pay around 8 Euros for his ticket (which was a very good price). My mum hates heights so she didn't come up with us and instead sat in the cafe/restaurant next to the Notre Dame having a drink. 

The views from level one of the Notre Dame Tower 

You stop several times going up the tower to see the views from different levels. So, this was the first stop. You then walk around to the other side and see the views from that side before going up more steps to the next level.

This was the view from the middle section of the tower looking on to the back of the cathedral where you can see all the gargoyles. There was an elephant gargoyle, pelican, a wizard and then the classic design of gargoyles that typically frighten off and protect those that it guards against any evil or harmful spirits.

This was the view from right at the top of the Notre Dame Tower and you could see the city of Paris! It was so beautiful seeing the top of this beautiful city and seeing the Eiffel Tower, churches and all the architecture ♡ 

After getting down from the top (which was painful and tiring going back down all those stairs without a break in between) we met back up with my mum in the cafe and had a drink. While we were sat there I did a bit of research on what we could do next before finding somewhere to eat. So, I used Discover Walks Blog to find out what fun things were in the area. After reading through their blog post we decided we would walk towards the Latin Quater and Shakespeare and Company bookshop.

On our way to the Latin Quater my mum suddenly realised her purse was missing, but thankfully the waiter at the cafe bar we'd just been to found it for us. We thought pickpockets might have stolen it while we were walking but luckily it was found and we didn't lose anything out of it. We were very thirsty walking in the sun and after having the stress of losing my mum's purse so we sat down in this little garden and dad went and got us some water.

First, we went to Shakespeare and Company Bookshop but I did a separate post explaining our amazing experience there so if you want to check that out click here. 

After experiencing what is Shakespeare and Company we walked past the cafe and headed into the Latin Quarter to explore. The Latin Quarter is the left bank neighbourhood in the 5th and the 6th arrondissements, so we explored around the small streets looking at all the cute shops (eyeing up the chocolate places) and found a nice place for dinner. If you are looking for a really nice place to eat in the Latin Quarter I'd definitely recommend Monk La Taverne de Cluny, it had amazing food, drinks and the staff were so friendly! 

Day Five: Eiffel Tower

To get to the Eiffel Tower we left our hotel to get breakfast at the local supermarket and then went to the closest metro (Porte de Vanves). We wanted to walk to the Eiffel Tower through the Jardins du Trocadéro, over the Pont d'Iéna and see the Eiffel Tower from a distance and take photos before going up. We tried to get tickets to go up the Eiffel Tower a few days before but there were no timed tickets available anywhere (we probably should have booked them before going on our trip) so we thought we would just go see if we could buy tickets there and see if the queues were really long. Getting off at Trocadéro metro station we walked through the gardens looking at the fountains and taking pictures from the top of the hill and then walked down over the river towards the Eiffel Tower. 

When we got to the Eiffel Tower we had to go through security, have our bags checked and then we were in the area to buy tickets and join queues. I was slightly disappointed because the last time I went up the Eiffel Tower you could see the Champ de Mars and could walk from the foot of the Eiffel Tower down the park and gardens, but because of the new security procedures and construction work going on you were boxed in. When we looked about where to get tickets the queues were so long, so we made the decision that instead of waiting in a queue for four hours when we had already seen the amazing views from the top of the Notre Dame we would go and explore and find somewhere nice for a drink. 

After going back out through security and into the park we strolled through the gardens and looked at all the flowers (it wasn't like I remember as metal fences were everywhere due to some new construction) but the sunflowers were fully bloomed and they looked beautiful! 

After walking through the gardens and taking some photos in front of the Eiffel Tower we carried on walking. We had a drink in a cafe as we were thirsty from the heat and then walked towards our next destination; Les Invalides and the Army Museum. But before reaching there we stopped off for some lunch just before the Army Museum and sat in a lovely park.

I don't have a lot of photos of the walk from the Les Invalides to the Grand Palais/Petit Palais as we were too busy admiring the sights and enjoying the walk in the sun! But we walked around the Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum) which was located within the Les Invalides and headed towards the Pont Alexandre III bridge, which is a very extravagant bridge! We decided to walk this particular way as we were heading towards the Champs-Élysées and wanted to walk down Avenue Winston Churchill and past the Winston Churchill statue (which we couldn't find). 

Once we came to the bottom of the  Champs-Élysées we slowly walked up and explored past all the car and luxury brand shops. 

Champs-Élysées pavement leading up to the Arc de Triomphe

Walking up the Champs-Élysées was so interesting seeing all the luxury brand shops like Louis Vuitton, Abercrombie and Fitch (who has entrance gates) luxury restaurants and then your other branded stores like Adidas and H&M (it reminded me a lot of Oxford Street in London). When you get to the Arc de Triomphe there are so many people everywhere taking photos so it took us a while to find the underground entrance to go underneath the roundabout and come out underneath the Arc de Triomphe. 

The Arc de Triomphe

When we walked around the Arc de Triomphe and were taking photos, looking at all the names inscribed on the walls we noticed that a ceremony was taking place near the Unknown Soldier. Individuals were wearing army and pilot uniforms taking photos, so I think something important was taking place, it was nice to see a celebration going on. 

The Unknown Soldier from World War I and the Eternal Flame

The Unknown Solider symbolises all of those that died in battle fighting for their country in World War I.

After leaving the Arc de Triomphe we got on to the metro and got off at the metro station Concorde. Walking through the Tuileries Garden located between the Louvre and the Place de la Concorde we headed towards the Louvre to find somewhere for a drink. We walked past the City Hall and went to a lovely bar/restaurant and relaxed in there before going back to our hotel and getting takeaway pizzas from the restaurant next door (they were so good!)  

Because we visited Paris in the summer the sun didn't go down until around 10:30pm every night, and as most nights we were already back at our hotel after having dinner so we weren't able to get good shots of the Eiffel Tower illuminated up close but we did get some shots through the trees from our hotel ♡ 

Day Six: Last full day in Paris

For our last day of the trip, we decided it would be a good idea to not do too much as we were already pretty exhausted from all the walking around and hectic itinerary, so we made our way slowly over to Montparnasse and the Sacre Coeur. I visited the Sacre Coeur when we came to Paris on a school trip in year 8 but we weren't allowed to go inside, therefore, this time I was determined to get to see inside! The walk up the hill was a challenge and a half especially in 30-degree heat but we did it and after queuing for a very short time we got inside. The inside was incredible, there was also mass currently taking place so while we walked around you could observe mass and hear those taking part in the service sing. 

I didn't take any photos inside as mass was taking place and they kindly asked if we would refrain from taking photos (that didn't stop some people though). Going around the Sacre Coeur was incredible, the architecture inside is beautiful! Like at Versailles some other visitors were so rude and even though they kindly asked not to take photos (nevermind using flash) people just went ahead and did it anyway. You could go up to the dome and view the panoramic views from the top but I'd already been up to the Notre Dame and my dad and I didn't want to leave my mum at the bottom on her own (she is afraid of heights).

After looking at the views from the top of the hill we headed over to the funicular lift (we weren't going to attempt walking down the hill) and got back down to the bottom. Next on our itinerary was the Moulin Rouge, lunch and then the Galerie Lafayette for a shopping experience.

We walked down some of the cutest little streets in Montparnasse, we stopped off at a lovely bar on this small street and it was a lovely place for a rest and some people watching. After relaxing for a while in the bar I got my map out and we started walking to the Moulin Rouge which wasn't very far away. When we got to the Moulin Rouge we were pretty disappointed just because we expected more of a flashy extravagant exterior, but to be fair we didn't go and see a show or anything so we can't make a judgment based on the outside.

After looking at the Moulin Rouge we continued walking down the street and found a lovely restaurant for some lunch, trying some classic French dishes. The next thing on our agenda was the Galeries Lafayette French department store. I thought I was following the right direction on Google Maps but I was taking us all completely the wrong way, so dad had to take charge of getting us there haha! 

The Galeries Lafayette had part of its store opposite with a red carpet. We didn't manage to get any decent photos of the department store from the outside that gave it justice but we got some photos from the inside! 

There were so many floors and the one floor with Louis Vuitton and Chanel you had to be invited in past the black rope to be allowed to view what was available to buy. 

The ceiling in the Galeries Lafayette was something else! The interior decor for this department store beats any of the other stores I've been in! 

I couldn't afford much in the shop as a lot of it was highly expensive designer clothing but I did buy a notebook and postcard of Paris (I actually hoard notebooks and even if I don't need one I will buy it anyway haha!) which was a good price as it was in the sale! 

When leaving the department store we crossed over the road and saw that the Paris Opera House was opposite. 

After admiring the Paris Opera House we carried on walking and ended up in this really fancy bar but the drinks were a really good price considering Paris prices! When looking at the map we noticed that one of the restaurant/bars we had been to before was close by, so we decided we would go there for our last dinner in Paris. We sat on the terrace as it was a lovely evening and they are a very popular place so it was full of people inside! I ordered a spaghetti carbonara for my last evening meal and it was pretty good (but very different from the spaghetti carbonara I've had before). 

Day Seven: Heading Home

We checked out of our hotel after making sure we had packed everything and said goodbye to the amazing staff at the Hotel ibis Paris Porte de Brancion Parc des Expositions. Then walked to the end of the street to catch the tram back to the metro stop Cité Universitaire to get our RER tickets and the RER B train back to Charles de Gaulle Airport. Charles de Gaulle isn't our favourite airport as it is so big and confusing to get around (we are used to flying from East Midlands or Birmingham) but the signs around the airport were great so we managed to find our gate without losing anybody haha! 

So that was our week trip to Paris, France ❤

I hope you enjoyed the photo diaries and the details of what we got up to on our trip! I'll be uploading a post soon on tips and recommendations for those who are travelling to Paris too!

See you soon ❣

Amy xx