Walking Paris & Searching for Quasimodo - 2

After our previous visits, we walked across the cobbled Parisian streets to Notre Dame.

Our aim was to spot Esmeralda & Quasimodo, but we settled for a cute Metro sign & a photo of the law courts surrounding the church we had visited.

Throughout the trip, Louise & I did a little lot of streetstyle spotting. This finely dressed young man was Louise's favourite.

After a short trek, we arrived at the famous Notre Dame de Paris! It was just as grand as its reputation & the place was buzzing with people.

My favourite people among the crowds were the artists. This small art class had temporarily settled to paint the building.

My idea of a perfect way to spend the day, watercolors are really nice for quick sketches & I couldn't help but have a little nosey peak.

Nearby there was a little bridge jam - packed with padlocks of every variety, it was insaaaane! 

Photos were a must of course.

All the while we were still out style spotting & I loved this guy's outfit:

On a school trip, there is only so much you can take in from the everyday Parisian life as everyday you go to a new tourist attraction, but the three of us (Libby, Louise & myself) found a little time to explore a backstreet close to Notre Dame.

Among the shops, We found this beautiful little cupcakery, which I found too beautiful to resist painting.

Once back at out meeting point with the rest of the group, we stayed a little longer to listen to a fellow English school playing behind Notre Dame.

On our way back to the coach, we came across the same little art group we had seen before & I took a few sneaky photos of their (uh-mazing) sketchbooks, I like the sketchy/artsy feel to it... (something I definitely want to integrate into my A2 sketchbook)

And with this beautiful use of watercolour, I leave you with what I'm listening tooo: 'Gracious' by Ben Howards & 'Hero' by Regina Spektor

Les Artistes à Paris - 1

A little while back, I woke up at a ridiculously early time, grabbed my suitcase & passport, and headed to Paris with a school group of artists!

It was manifique! Since then, my computer had been busy being useless so I've only just managed to put together these posts. Here goes the re-living of this creative adventure. 

First of all, meet the main girls: Libby on the left, and Louise on the right.

To begin with, we only knew each other from the mishmash of different years & schools on the trip, so we soon became the three musketeers (we like to think so at least...).

After lots of sleeping, trying on endless perfume samples & being introduced to 'UNO' on the ferry, we arrived at our first destination: our local castle. As you do.

 The architecture was incredible & we all got started on our sketchbooks, trying to jot down our first impressions of the place.

After doing a little unpacking, we got ready to explore the town further...

Oh, and did I mention the be-a-u-tiful blue skies?

The next day was just as hot, and we set off to visit the Ron Muek exhibition. It was incredible. He creates very realistic sculptures of people & every detail is perfected - toe hair, unshaved legs, cellulite, you name it, he's though of it! (Definitely worth a google)

After this exhibition, we made our way to Sainte - Chapelle, passing these cute riverside stalls on our way.

To get there we had to go through some pretty intimidating law courts & so I finally had a chance to bust out my French, asking for directions.

The design was amazing, both upstairs & downstairs (It was a double decker church - say whuuut!) were very different but both incredible.

The downstairs was smaller & more gothic, whereas the upstairs was filled with huge stained - glass windows. 

Once we had all found which part we preferred, we sat down to sketch for a while before heading back outside.

The outside is toned down a little compared to the interior, but it still is a pretty awesome place to be, there are 3D patterns on the walls - like this castle detailing.

I can't really remember what I was listening to at the time, so here is what I am listening to now: 'I Love It' by Icona Pop & Jasmine Thompson's cover of 'La La La' by Naughty Boy.

Skater Wishes

I have this very odd & uncharacteristic wish to skateboard. Not necessarily to do tricks or fancy things (not that I would mind...) but I just want to learn to glideeeeee.

This feeling normally comes about every summer, but this year I'm looking seriously into buying a skateboard - who knew it was so hard to find a simple plain one?! Here is a nice Urban outfitters skateboard (totally out of my price range though).

In other news, I've found out how to use gifs, loads of exciting moving pictures now woohoo! I'm back from Paris with many posts to come, it was amazing.

Listening tooo: Ride by Lana Del Rey (I love the intro)

Brighton Numero Deux!

As you read this I'll be in Paris (I am crazily super dooper excited about it right now)!! But for now, here is part two of my wonderful day trip to Brighton with Paul.

After having left The Pavilion, we explored the area & some of the more well known shops (THEY HAVE AN URBAN OUTFITTERS!) Needless to say, I was happy... There were some majorly cute kids excited about a street act too:

There was also some preeeeetty awesome street art, even though I have no idea of the message it is supposed to have... And we also came across a street sale with loads of 'vintage-y' items & books.

 And here is Paul taking part in the street art, I think this image was my favourite. If only we had good street art like this where I lived.

After a little spot of shopping, we made our way to get some tasty treats from the pier & by now it was so hot. Especially as I'm pale.

So I had to find shade wherever I could... 

This was literally the best I could find. Even in the late afternoon the beach was buzzing with packed restaurants & people doing watersports.

We got to the pier & feasted on candy floss & toffee apples for dinner - omnomnomnom! The view from the pier was so pretty too!

Then we had to go back up the long walk to the station to catch our train. Which was lovely actually as we got to see loads of pretty buildings as we went through London. We passed soo close to the shard & here is tower bridge too!)

It was a loooovely day out & practically perfect in every way (I say practically as I got sunburnt despite the use of shade!!)

As I am in Paris as you read this (WOO) , I assumme I will be listening toooo: 'La Noyée' & 'La redécouverte' by Yann Tiersan

Covent Garden By The Sea (Brighton)

Yesterday I went to Brighton for the first time in ageeeees with my boyfriend, Paul.

We got off the train & crept into a side passage to get away from the crowds. It turned out this passage was the beginning of North Laine - an area famous for its unique & vibrant boutiques. We looked into a few shops but quickly headed towards the food shops, for a beach picnic.

(p.s. how awesome are those balloons?)

The beach was packed but perfect, it was cool but sunny & as it was a pebble beach, our food remained intact, bliss.

There were even a few brave people out swimming despite the water being freeeezing.

After lunch we made our way to the famous pier...

It was so lively & so much was going on. The rides looked good although we didn't go on any (this time...).

There were also hundreds of 2p, 10p & various other machines inside the arcades.

Our next destination was a very pretty park Paul had heard of, so we set out searching...

On our way we found this fountain which had apparently been adopted as a bird bath:

The park was gorgeous! Filled with flowers & trees and there was a beautiful building in the centre (The Pavillion).

After a fair bit of roaming around & taking photos of all the pretty flowers, we found a lovely spot in the shade close to a man playing music in the park.

It was loooovely! I would describe Brighton as Covent Garden by the Sea (hence the title) It has all the lively street artists & independant shops London has on a slightly smaller scale, and with a sea next door - hooray!

I have a few more photos of the day ready for my next post too! Dun dun dunnn...

Listening tooo: 'Let's go' by Matt & Kim and 'New Slang' by The Shins

(I'm off to Paris now woohoooooooo!!)