21! Birthday weekend in Paris

What a crazy 6 days we've had here.

Mel and Ali arrived on Thursday lunch time, and that night we went to a wicked jazz gig in a little bar. The band was in the cellar, so we were surrounded by curved stone walls in an odd shaped room, it was so cool. We sat with some French people who were super friendly, and included us in their game of guessing the songs and artists. They even asked if Ali wanted to get up and have a jam with the band. The music was great, and apart from a super affectionate couple almost lying in my lap sucking each others' faces, it was really fun.




Friday Mel, Ali and I went to the Louvre so that they could see the Mona Lisa, and I showed them the grand masters, as well as the super cool video portrait of Lady Gaga replicating a famous painting. We took them to Place des Vosges, my favourite place here, and then went for drinks. Dave arrived late that night in time for the dinner the next day.

About to eat the snail

Saturday I checked Facebook to find that Cryssie was sitting next to my friend Stacey from Palmy on the Eurostar to Paris! What are the chances, huh? My birthday dinner was Saturday night, and we headed over to the Eiffel Tower early to take family photos in front of it. It was heaps of fun, and we stopped for drinks on the way to the restaurant. The restaurant was on Rue Amelie, and was a gorgeous typical French restaurant that must have seated 20 people at most. It was perfect. I even ate a snail! They put a lit candle in my crêpes for dessert, and overall it was a really fun evening.

Sacre Coeur with Stacey

Sunday morning was a lazy one, and I managed to get in touch with Stacey and her mum. Jess, Mel's friend, joined us and we all headed up to the outskirts of northern Paris to the famous Marché aux Puces (flea market). There were lovely things there, but out of my price range, and we decided that since we were so close we would walk to Sacre Coeur. What a steep climb! It was worth it though, as we came up the back way and through the Christmas markets. What a beautiful church, and an amazing view. We then headed home and Stacey found a beautiful dress for her graduation at Acquarêves, where I bought my birthday dress; she looks absolutely stunning in it. It was so much fun sharing Paris with Stacey and her mum, as well as having Jess, a local, to show us around the less touristy places. That night we played the most hilarious game, Heads Up, a very Mawhinney family game (loud and energetic).



Monday was my actual birthday, and I woke up to find Mel and Ali had prepared a lovely champagne breakfast with croissants and fruit. It was perfect! I was given some lovely presents and it was a nice slow start to the day. Mel was left at 3, and then we headed out for a boat ride on the Seine. It was brilliant but absolutely freezing! So neat to see Paris from a different point of view. Pizza for dinner at the Italian restaurant downstairs, and games afterwards ended my birthday.

Today (Tuesday) the girls went shopping while the boys went to the Champs Elysées. Crys and Ali have now left on the evening Eurostar and we have the apartment to ourselves once more.




I do love this city, and I can't believe I have to leave it in a couple of days.