Last bit of my trip

I know that I'm back at home but I just wanted to finish off my travel stories in Lyon and Paris. 

We caught the TGV to Lyon and hubby managed to book us second class. He learnt his lesson to check in early so we didn't have to sit in different seats. As I left hubby to book the hotels, I was impressed with his choice of the Carlton Hotel. We had this awesome, massive room with 3 french doors opening out to the verandah looking onto the city.

After a filling breakfast, I went on 'Hubby's sh*tty tours' and caught the funnicular to see the remains of 2 roman amphitheatres which are still being used for concerts today and continued onto Fourviere, an amazing castle on the top of the hill where the view is stunning which looks over Lyons all the way to Mont Blanc. We then went on a memory lane adventure where hubby managed to find his abode during his stay in Lyon and before checking the old town. 

Using wifi in our hotel, I had trouble logging on and had no idea why. Then I locked myself out the account and so I had to ring the operator to unlock my account when I discovered that hubby's handwriting for 2 is actually a Z. Learn something new everyday.

Onto the TGV to Paris, we travelled first class baby. Very nice seats, very quiet carriage, even ok toilets on train. Of course there would be a silly moment, as we were coming back from the food carriage into our carriage, I stood in the middle of the electronic doorway and assumed that it would stay open. It did not so as hubby was telling to move, the doors closed on me and my tummy and I was stuck for a moment. Hubby helped me then laughed at me.

Shopping at Careforre supermarket for essential ingredients there was a priority queue for pregnant ladies. As hubby lined up he called for me to get in the queue, but there was a yuppie in front of us with a pile of groceries and I thought it was going to take awhile but the checkout chick ushered me forward and as I saw the contents of hubby's basket, it was mostly alcohol- 2 beers, half bottle of champagne and a punnet of strawberries, hmm wonder what she was thinking.

We joined a free walking tour at Monmarte and visited Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret, Van Gogh's house, Moulin de la Gallette, where Renoir found his inspiration, Saint Denis, protector of France and first Paris' bishop Dalida, famous French star Lapin Agile, famous cabaret artistique Churh Saint Pierre de Montmartre, Place du Tertre, place where big paintings were painted. Also spotted some space invader artwork, very funny stuff.

We also checked out Museum D'orsay and whilst admiring Monet turned to see Christy Turlington, the supermodel standing beside me. She is gorgeous with no makeup and I think she's 40 now. 

On another day we followed the lonely planet walking guide of the latin quarter and as hubby remembered having a really good falafel and I was looking forward to eating one too. But he couldn't find or remember where it was, luckily the iphone was at hand and we found the Jewish quarter and found a place that made the best falafel wrap with garlic sauce, I've ever eaten.

Nearly forgot to mention, we went on a chocolate and pastry tour where we visited 4 chocolate shops, 1 bakery, 1 olive shop and ate a stack of macaroons and dark chocolate. So good but walking for 3 hours was tiring stuff.

We fitted in watching the soccer match between France and Uraguay on the big screen under the Effiel Tower, soaking the atmosphere in.

Think the most memorable was the baguettes- don't think I've eaten so much bread before in my life and the desserts from Lenoart.  

Other things I picked up on, the keyboards have letters a, m in the wrong place. Hot and cold water is known as c & f. But c is chaud-hot and f is froud-cold, so the first day I was staring shower trying to figure it out. There's supermarket dedicated to frozen goods only, only in France. 

Well its time for bed and to hangup my travelling boots for now, it may be babytalk from now on hahaha.

Thanks for reading peeps and replying. Can you believe only 13 weeks to go!! Eek time is flying past.

Nice and Cannes

Its hot and feels like summer here, Nice is full of police due to the Franco-African summit with all the African heads of state and French President meeting for discussions.

Being in Nice brought back memories when I was last here, went to the market place where I bought lots of jewellery, the cobblestone beaches and alfresco dining. Enjoying it alot more now and been listening to hubby using his french. He's pretty good=)

Have been enjoying the sun and nicoise salads. Haven't had my fill of pastries or chocolate and Will commented that this was the best time to eat these due to my expanding girth. Hmmm, men come out with the best comic timing about weight.

Funny story, I told hubby to grab me a panettone whilst he got himself a baguette. He gets parma ham on his baguette and comes back to the table sheepishly saying he forgot that I was I pregnant and couldn't eat that. Not sure how you could forget but it made me laugh.

Been sitting in sun lounges in Cannes getting a nice tan and I don't really want this holiday to end ever. We've been staying at the Intercontinental, very swish.

The markets here are amazing with such beautiful looking produce. I can say that the tomatoes are so sweet and are like nothing I have ever tasted, wishing I could ship it all back home with me.

Okay enough writing for me as these french keyboards are hard work and plus the baby is moving around so much it must be time for dinner. We're off to Lyon next and then to Paris.

London -second stop

Left rainy Edinburgh for sunny London. Found that it was a lot warmer yet again. We still hadn't learnt our lesson and were overdressed again. Managed to navigate our way to the tube station to catch a train to Winchester. Battling with  2 suitcases was not fun for hubby but he managed to carry both up and down stairs without complaint. After an hour of seeing the English countryside we arrived to a quiet country station.

Admired the small quaint town of Winchester; walked past Jane Austen's house and the amazing Winchester cathedral. Seeing the cathedral and hearing the history was one of the highlights of the trip I must say. Will's friend also introduced me to duck confit and cassoulet with potato gratin. So good, annoyed that my taste buds are turned off red wine.

Once back to London, I had 2 instances of pregnancy brain moments.  We bought day tickets on the tube and about an hour into our journey I lost my ticket. Lost all ticket holding privileges after that. Checked out the biggest toy store Hamleys where we bought our first teddy for our bub. Hubby was getting rather nostalgic about it all. I couldn't believe the number of demonstrators on hand to show you how the toys worked. Also made it to Harrods where we contemplated getting a baby outfit but the price tags were out of this world expensive so we opted for Baby Gap instead.

With all the walking taking a strain on my back, my good friend Kirsty booked me in for a massage. The best 45 mins ever, took all the stress out of my back. Poor hubby, he has been my on call masseuse for the last few months so this was the only time off he got. Second stupid moment was somehow managing to drop my wallet on the street after my massage and was lucky to have some good Samaritan return it to the physio place. Lost wallet holding privileges as well.



Checked out Richmond in the rain, crazy weather here whilst my friends went ring shopping. Funny how the little arguments about guest lists are universal for all couples getting married. We caught a performance of pyjama men at Soho and as it was the same night as the Euro vision song contest, London was alive and buzzing with drunkards on the tube.

Off to Nice and Cannes and hopefully some better weather, can't wait.