Brisbane, Australia!

Hello from Down Under!

It's only my 5th day here but my life has changed so much in that time... in a good and exciting way :) New friends, new flat (moving in this wkend!), new job, and a totally new way of life!

Every night I keep thinking I should pen down daily the new things I've seen and the surprises I've experienced but then seem to run out of time ...so here are my top 8!

1) From the moment I landed I've been touched by how friendly everyone is here. My airbnb hosts came to pick me up from the airport at 2230 despite starting work the next day at 0700... the supermarket lady taught me to how to use the buses... to my patients who tell me "Alex, you'll stay". Also no one in hospital gives you any hassle for referring or requesting. I mean it's their job no? The pharmacist actually said to me "don't feel you need to look after everything. There are separate teams for that."

2) Australian wildlife is as wild as it gets... a few examples:
Every morning at dawn I wake up to the raucous cries of birds. It feels like you're in a rainforest!
I'm also used to the sound of cats running on the roof - actually the sound of possums scurrying. Oh and random insects/spiders everywhere. Thankfully no tarantulas yet.
The ibis (a bird! That's what the hotel chain is named after - nope I didn't know that either) is also crazy. One stole my lunch on day one. Google image them - they look like they're from the jurassic era and are as common here as pidgeons in central London.
Oh and wild "bush turkeys" roam the streets. Google image them too. They look so important!

3) The Aussies are so. laid. back.
It's almost like time has another meaning! They also love to chat and joke. Even at work. To the point where I admit it irritated me beyond belief on my first day at work but it does make the work environment seem extremely relaxed! I think I just need to adjust!

4) They love organic. Anything that can be organic should be organic it would seem.

5) Brits are everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE. Two of my patients told me I must be from London just today!

6) Stuff is expensive. Who charges £3 for a pouch of instant noodles? The Aussies.

7) Brisbane is a rise and sleep early kind of city (due to the heat). My present job starts at 0630! The concept seemed initially crazy but I'm already kind of used to it and actually quite like it that way. It makes sense to utilise daylight! Also it means you have so much more time in the hospital day... e.g. if the patient is aiming to leave at 10am, you have 3 hours (rather than <1) to sort it all out! Plus if I ended on time (more on that another time) I would technically have a whole half day to do whatever I pleased!

8) There are so many words (and drug names) that are different here. My favourite example is Pom which means a Brit. Sounds like a bad word right?! But kind of cute. Like half a pom pom.

Overall it's really great. Whilst I do miss my family and friends, I love the people, the weather (that may change in the summer), the attitude (can do), the lifestyle... Sounds dangerously good and it is!!

Planning to commence a new blog for this year soon. Watch this space! :D

A new home from home

Well, just 7 months after I heard I was coming here, I finally am: in Edinburgh! It's been of course slightly hectic! I flew out of London on Friday, arrived in Glasgow in the weekend lapping up some of the Commonwealth Games (hearing a whole stadium shout "Scccaaawwwtttt-luuuunnnnnd" is not something to forget!), catching up with old friends, having haggis and potato scones for breakfast (apparently that's how an English breakfast becomes a Scottish one?) and then by Sunday evening I was here in my new home :D

I was apprehensive, about the room I'd seen once, the new housemates half of whom I hadn't yet met, the hospital I'd also laid eyes on only once, the place I had visited just a handful of times. But it's all panned out really far better than I could have asked for!

For starters, my housemates (despite heated discussions over Whatsapp regarding who was taking which room for what price) are all very agreeable and already I can see the support that undoubtedly we will each rely on when we really start work, is blossoming. Tomorrow will be our first house meal out :)

The flat itself is also situated in a wonderful part of Edinburgh (Bruntsfield) - peppered with quaint cafes, two ice cream parlours a stone's throw away and the sorts of restaurants which you know must only serve home-made food - all my kind of thing! ;) And also lots of lovely shops you wouldn't find on a drab English high street.

Yesterday we all met the 190 or so doctors starting here for the first time. It felt remarkably like being at your first day of school except already there were many cliques! Of course all the Scottish universities had a cohort of representatives as expected, and I was relieved that I at least knew my housemates!

Then today was our first day at the hospital at which I will be spending a good part of 8 months this year working at. It's not too fancy, not too big and not too small and importantly whilst slightly disorganised people seemed friendly enough! I also met my fellow juniors who will be working along side me and they were all lovely :) It makes me slightly less dread the two 87.5hour weeks I have ahead of me!

This afternoon I had some time to cook for the first time in a while, and also move about the furniture in my room. I always find I feel much more at home once I've added a spot of me to a room - and it's true, it now feels like mine :) There are two tartan (of course) throws on the bed, but union jack bunting on my fireplace... my desk looks out towards my only narrow but tall window, and a few photos sparsely colour the walls. In a few weeks, when my parents kindly bring up the rest of my belongings that wouldn't fit into a suitcase (queue bike, kitchen utensils, printer, the list goes on...) I'm sure this room will resemble the tip of a room I very almost left in London! Then it'll definitely feel like my own ;)

The longest night of my life?

...Is probably tonight! In a few hours I find out whether or not I managed to prove that after six (sometimes happy, sometimes less so!) years I have accumulated enough knowledge to be bestowed the priviledge of being a junior doctor.

One hopes that one has, but there is always that element of doubt...

I am sure that my entire year group, despite being scattered across the world, is feeling the same way. We ended our last exam just about a week ago and have since embarked on our "electives" = 2.5 months to gather experience in any healthcare system you wish. There is also some time to relax :) and so currently I am with my grandparents in Calgary, West Canada.

Though I only had three short days to sort out my life (!) after my last exam and coming here (I had essentially been a hermit for about 2 months), as soon as I hopped on the plane I felt completely relaxed. That feeling of not having deadlines, endless to do lists, a slither of stress in every footstep... Basically that everyday life that we carve for ourselves, is the feeling I seem to endlessly crave and one which only when I am "on holiday" do I truly remember exists. The best medicine for any illness :)

The funny thing was on the plane I was reflecting on the first time I had travelled alone on a flight, pretty much exactly 6 years previously on my gap year. That time, I had just embarked and probably within about 10 minutes burst into tears (much to the dismay of the lady next to me.) Whilst I was certain I wanted to "travel", all of a sudden I had realised how many unknowns lay ahead of me that I hadn't really thought through... Would my travel buddy really meet me at the other side? How was I going to eat when I didn't really know how to cook? What if I fall ill? Small, silly things that seemed perfectly sensible doubts then! I laughed at myself when I recalled my fears. Now I almost relish
those unknowns... And the exciting encounters and experiences that come with the unknowns.

For example, going back six years again, you'll be glad to know, I did stop crying once I became engrossed in a film I decided to watch to distract myself. At the end of it, I plucked up the courage to talk to my neighbour, who turned out to be a cardiologist from Sao Paulo where I was headed. She, very sweetly, denied she had seen me crying when I tried to explain my peculiar behaviour. 4 months later when I transitted via Sao Pulo en the way home, I met with her in SP and she took me to lunch and to see her hospital. It's encounters like that that you never forget :)

In a few days I travel to Sydney to meet with two old friends, and then on to New Zealand and South Africa with my sister (the actual work bit!). Memorable encounters certainly await!

Fingers crossed in a few hours, I am greeted with the news that life's adventures can continue without a hiccup!

A different sort of Christmas

So this year we spent Christmas abroad, a first for us. We spent 23rd - 27th in Lapland, which I would highly recommend to anyone who is a child, has a child or has ever been a child! It was magical despite Santa being away, busy on his deliveries ;)

In case, like I was, you're not actually sure where Lapland is, it's the Northern region of Finland, sort of like how Scotland is to the UK. Interesting fact: there are 200,000 reindeer there and only 6000 people! So you can imagine how remote it is.

If you're interested, we went on a package holiday deal which usually would make with writhe in terror at being prohibited whilst travelling, but it is an extremely difficult place to navigate around so actually I think this is probably the best way to do it! The great thing is all your meals are in place (our hotel was called the Davvi and excellent) and all activities and the necessary transport organised for you so it makes for a very relaxing week :) We rode reindeer, huskies and snowmobiles! We also learnt to ice-fish with a local which was cool in both senses!

Christmas Day was probably the highlight for me when around 5pm in the pitch black (as there is only 4 hours of daylight in the Arctic Circle at the moment) we saw the Northern lights whilst being pulled on a sleigh by a reindeer! To top it off I also convincingly saw shooting stars for the first time!

Santa Bread: clearly too artistic to eat!

So it was a very lovely Christmas but actually I wanted to talk more about the volunteering I did yesterday with Crisis UK.

Crisis is a charity that helps the homeless (http://www.crisis.org.uk/). Every Christmas time they set up week long centres from 24th - 30th so that homeless people can enjoy a week inside in the warm, with beds, showers, and three hot meals a day. They also provide them with services like medical check-ups, hair cuts and shaves, as give them new clothes and toiletries and help and advice on how to get accommodation.

I have actually previously tried to volunteer for two years, but the scheme is so popular in London I never managed to get a place! Determined this year I kept my eye out on the Crisis website from October and got my place on the last day (30th December) at the Rough Sleepers Centre.

I went to training a few weeks ago and remember being very excited afterwards. The people there were clearly down-to-earth, excited to volunteer too and essentially like-minded. However when it came to the night before I volunteered I actually felt very apprehensive. Originally I had hoped to volunteer with a friend but they had had to pull out. I even wondered whether I should continue for a moment. But I thought back to how long I had wanted to do this, and the silly doubts quickly subsided.

I worried though on my journey to the centre... would they resent me? What could I say to strike up conversation without being hurtful? Would they be aggressive or violent?

When I arrived I did feel slightly like a deer in headlights. But looking back it was 07:45 so no wonder why everyone looked groggy! After the morning briefing I was sent to man the dining area with a more experienced volunteer.

We essentially were standing outside doors smiling for a few hours, but you know what? It was great fun! We spoke to the guests as there was a lot of thoroughfare there and the lady I was with was fantastic with them which made me quickly at ease. Of course they were normal people. Why did I feel any fear at all I wondered? In fact they were very friendly and generally talkative, full of stories and different perspectives. I won't forget when one fairly elderly gentleman walked up to us and said thank you very much and gave us kisses! He wasn't the only one either. They were so grateful and though I knew I was doing really nothing, the efforts collectively Crisis goes through every year clearly were appreciated.

The charity (not a state I'm in)

After breakfast, one of the guests gave a thank you speech as it was the last day the Centre was being used. He himself had been a volunteer in previous years, but this year returned as a guest. His speech was very moving for us all. Apparently most of us are only three months away from homelessness, if you lose your salary/support. It makes you think when you hear it like that.

As the centre was closing there were some disputes, naturally - who would want to be pushed back on to the streets? But mostly, everyone was happy. In fact the gentleman I mentioned even became rather aggressive towards the other guests at one point. Such is the volatility of a vulnerable person. When we made a huge human chain to pass out all the clothes/equipment/tables/chairs from every floor of the building to the removal vans outside, he stood at the entrance to the centre, cheering us on. He was the last guest left but clearly enjoyed being there!

The few hours I spent with Crisis opened my eyes to a world I had never really let myself into. I am guilty of being one of those city dwellers who tends to be.. almost I think slightly afraid for some reason, when I used to see someone in the doorway of a shop, even when it is all too customary a sight... I don't know why. I guess it's fear of the unknown? My only interactions with such people is buying the occasional Big Issue from a street vendor or watching my father give money to them. Other than that I had never stopped to talk for prolonged lengths of time. But now I see of course these people are just like ourselves, just their situation less lucky, going through a difficult time, and in need of support, like we all are. It could happen to any of us.

When I got back I ran into the shower and straight to bed, exhausted. I now sit here with biceps slathered in analgesic ointment, and raring to go next year, hoping that I will be able to slot in more shifts with whatever Christmas schedule I may have. How lucky we are to have a shower, a bed and a roof to run back to whenever we wish.

In 2014, let's be more friendly towards our neighbours :)

Happy New Year!

Never in a thousand years

...did I think I would be experiencing rural medicine in the Shetland islands... but here I am in "Lerwick" doing exactly that.

We had been asked a few months ago to choose where we would like to undertake a 3-week GP placement with the only criteria being that the placement had to be outside London. I decided I wanted to go to Scotland, a place that has always fascinated me somewhat... partly because we used to visit there fairly frequently and I love the Scottish accent but also because the people from there always seem so friendly! A placement was organised near Loch Lomond but unfortunately that practice later became unavailable. Still determined to go on my Scottish adventure, I asked to be put in touch with anyone else who might take me on. A few days passed with no sign of any joy (a few days is long in iPhone time!), but eventually an email came through; a GP in a place called Unst was willing have me visit.

I had never heard of Unst (have you?!), and when I google mapped this it became clear why... this was the most northerly isle of the Shetlands..i.e. of the U.K.! It was closer to Norway than London. Part of me was excited and part of me slightly unsure. I could see from the map this would not be an easy destination to get to. Would it be worth it I wondered?

It transpired that a student had visited this Practice a couple of years beforehand and I was put in touch with her. By coincidence I actually knew this student, now doctor, though I hadn't realised she had been on placement so far away. She convinced me and that was that: it's true this was probably a now-or-never situation!

My journey here was one I'll never forget. Hitchhiking through Argentina and speedboating through Laos were eye-openers but this was different in its own way! I first got myself to Aberdeen. From here I took an overnight 14-hour ferry. Even at check-in, I started to feel the stares... a Chinese girl clearly not from Aberdeen getting on a ferry to the Shetlands on her own? Then came the questions. First I met a retired man from Cornwall - he was a bike enthusiast, cycling all around Scotland as part of a retirement holiday. Then came Diesel. A Scotsman and biker - not a bicycle biker but a motobiker, complete with black leather jacket, long straggly hair and a Darth Vader like helmet. Now in London, my City girl senses would tell me to probably avoid conversation with such strangers but when you're on a ferry feeling seasick after forcing down pea soup, it's a whole lot more difficult to pretend to be in your own zone!!

Yep, the Shetlands is that red "A" balloon...! And yes they are closer to Norway than London!

"Two Questions: Do. You. SPEAK. ENNNNGLISH?" I could barely stop myself from laughing here despite my throbbing head. "I'm from London". He looked slightly blank before sitting down and asking "Do you want to speak?" I didn't really feel I had a choice as he was already on his seat and no-one was around. But against my irrational fears, he was perfectly nice (why wouldn't he be?!), just curious as to why someone as foreign-looking as myself would be onboard such a ferry..!
The conversation actually helped clear my headache and eventually I decided I had spoken long enough to be able to excuse myself politely. The rest of the night I tried to sleep in my "pod"; it was actually better than I anticipated though at times the sea did make me feel like a bobbing glass bottle longing to wash up on a shore somewhere.

Around 07:30 the next morning we docked in at Lerwick where I am now. It was a very grey, rather uninviting day. I was directed to the correct bus stop ready for bus journey number one. Fortunately an elderly couple from the Orkney islands heading to Unst were also waiting; I was very relieved I would be able to follow them on the next bus, then boat, then bus, then boat, and final bus!

The bus drove out of the small town into rolling countryside. Not like the green English countryside or the rocky Scottish highlands, but lots of brown undulating hills, what I know know to be composed of peat. (That stuff you learn about in geography but never truly understood..) The rain kept pouring. About an hour or so later we arrived at the North-eastern edge of the Mainland of Shetland. A ferry about half the size of the last one was pulling in. We huddled together in the bus shelter; another touristy-looking man joined us - a German, also heading to Unst. He clearly also was pleased to have met the couple who would be able to lead him there too!

We all got on the ferry where there was a surprisingly comfy seating area with a coffee machine and toilets. 20 minutes later we arrived in Yell: isle number two. What looked more like a big car than a mini bus was waiting for us at the shore. Had the couple not been there I probably wouldn't have trusted what appeared to be a man and his car! They seemed to think the arrangement usual and so I also hopped in along with the German. A young guy was already seated in the back - I recognised him as someone from the overnight ferry.

Our bus/car pulled away and I plucked up the courage to acknowledge I had seen him the night before. He concurred with a friendly smile and told me he was an engineering student from Aberdeen, visiting his mum who was the new practice nurse in Unst. I wondered if I would meet her in the following week..

8 minutes later we arrived to Unst, finally! The elderly couple were picked up by the daughter whilst the three of us boarded a mini bus - this one looked kosher. I had been instructed to tell this driver I was "staying with Jane" to which he nodded with supposed comprehension. We all sat in silence as we absorbed the place we would all call home, me for the next fortnight, them for the next few days. The other two both got off before me and we went our separate ways. I was dropped off at a bus stop - a very decorated one I will explain later - and "Jane" was waiting there as she said she would be. She drove me up the road to her house, a lovely quiet place full of trinkets she had collected from all her travels from exotic places I hadn't really heard of. I would be living in the extension next door. It was beautiful and immaculately clean, and far nicer than my dorm room in London!
The next ferry was now half the size of the last! I found it amusing it was called "Bigga". The seating area this time was very basic: wooden benches in the basement of the boat with a grotty probably-shouldn't-try-me-looking coffee machine. It all looked a bit war-time-esque but perfectly functional. Above the noise, I asked the German more about his reasons for heading towards this unlikely but clearly fairly popular Isle. He turned out to be a Gastroenterologist (Gut doctor) from Northern Germany. The world is so small and medics are everywhere! He seemed quite amused I was visiting the Shetlands for a placement but then agreed he also liked visiting odd islands for walking trips which is why he was there.

Since then it's been a bit of a whirlwind. I've definitely had my eyes opened wider than I had even expected they would be. The people, the lifestyle, the doctoring is all a far cry from that of London and the life akin to me. And now I'm back in Lerwick tonight staying with a kind doctor who agreed to show me the only hospital in the Shetlands tomorrow. My visit started earlier than we anticipated however as just after I arrived tonight there was an emergency transfer needed for a patient who had to been flown to Aberdeen. I went in the ambulance with them. It was my first time doing such a call and so all a bit exciting! The person was manoeuvred onto the tiniest plane I've seen and sent into the black night's sky on board with two doctors from the
"Retrieval Service".

The whole team were so friendly and keen to get me involved. In London, as a student you often feel completely in the way! After the event, the ambulance men then drove me back to the doctor's house where I'm staying. Where else on earth do ambulances transport you home?!

It's time like this when I feel I cannot deny that luck and fate and serendipity must exist.

European Escapisms

Itchy Feet

One of my true loves in life is travelling, and though I'm a Londoner at heart, I am forever planning where I am going for my next trip - so when I saw my timetable for 15th - 22nd February was labelled "Study", this could only mean one thing: "Holiday"! 

(Remember playing hard allows you to work harder!)

Lake Como & Milan

As it is becoming rarer and rarer for my busy family to find time to spend together, going away is always a treat. Rather than just a city break though, we decided we would go on a different sort of holiday - to the Italian countryside, and visit Lake Como (Lago di Como), a quiet area just outside Milan that we had heard was so beautiful even George Clooney had moved there..!

We arrived late at night and drove up and down very windy roads to our apartment where we were staying, near the village of Menaggio. Though we usually opt for hotels, we had heard apartments were a popular and more personal way to enjoy the lake. After trawling through many reviews on Tripadvisor, I had booked Balcon Fiorito, a two-apartment lodging run by a Scottish lady, Eleanor. 

Unlike hotels, where clicking and paying is the most contact you have before arrival, I could tell from our email exchanges this was a different kind of service. Eleanor made our stay as comfortable as possible, from asking for our flight arrival time and giving us directions to the apartment, to ringing ahead a pizzeria who would cook us dinner. When we arrived she then gave us a bottle of wine and silver almonds to celebrate my parents' upcoming 25th wedding anniversary which I had mentioned to her briefly only in passing! She was the perfect host and made us scrumptious breakfasts during our stay which included a freshly baked coffee cake and Scotch pancakes! She was also of course able to give us personal recommendations to restaurants and interesting places to visit in the area.

On our first morning, the beauty of Lake Como was revealed to us; crystal clear waters dramatically flanked by the snow-capped Alps against a cloudless blue sky, with quaint villas stretching up the  slopes. It couldn't be more pictureque. 

The beautiful blues of Lake Como

We spent our time there exploring the villages and small towns dotted around the lake, sometimes using the ferry boats to cross the waters, other times relying on our trusty TomTom to guide us. As it was the off-peak season, much of the scenery was little disturbed by tourists and we were able to enjoy a snippet of local life. The flipside was many attractions were closed but as we were there for a short period this was not a huge matter. 

Belagio - the town after which the famous fountain-clad hotel in Las Vegas is named after!

The shoreline at Varena

Our last day was spent revisiting Milano and easing ourselves back into City life. This is the beautiful Duomo (Cathedral) at the heart of Milan:

So if you're looking for an alternative, less well known destination to relax in, I would highly recommend Lake Como + Milan, particularly when you can get hot chocolates like this...

...I admit I am presently planning my retirement in the region!

-----

Paris in 2 days

Day 1

After Milan, I headed straight out to Paris for a quick break with a good friend (I have to make the most of my one week student holidays!). We travelled by Eurostar which we had jointly booked with a hotel as part of a package. I had been once on the Eurostar before to Amsterdam and again was reminded how convenient it is to travel from the heart of one city to another, without having to arrive hours early as you would for a plane. Though initially it may seem pricey, actually the Eurostar can be more pocket-friendly than you might think, particularly if you can be flexible with your timings. Hotel Kleber (3*) was also excellent. It was located a stone's throw from L'Arc de Triomphe and so in prime position for exploring the city's major sights. The staff were also very polite and friendly - almost as helpful as Eleanor! 

I had been to Paris numerous times before as a child when we used to visit Disneyland. The only time I had been in recently though was three years ago as part of a charity "Rag dash" - the kind of trip which is lots of fun but not designed for sightseeing!

Les Champs-Élysées

With such a short time schedule we had planned our itinerary quite thoroughly and headed straight via the L'Arc de Triomphe to the Champs-Élysées dreamily looking into the windows at the vast array of grand displays. We passed the Grand and Petit Palais, Place de la Concorde and Jardin des Tuileries until eventually winding down for a spot of lunch on Rue Saint-Honoré. This is a bit like the Bond Street of Paris, and so probably not the best place for finding food - we did enjoy our quiche and omelette but for a hefty pricetag. The toilet in the café also charged which I found particularly cheeky! 

Le jardin des Tuileries

There was no time to dauble however. After lunch we headed towards the Eiffel Tower, on the way finding Rue Cler, a small cobbled residential street with various stalls selling fruit, pastries and other delights. This was one of my favourite spots of the trip and hence why I think it is always good to walk when you can - not only is it healthy but it allows you to discover the non-touristy corners that you might not otherwise find. Though having said that you may find like us you want to try every pastry and macaroon you see!

The Eiffel Tower was of course a glorious sight particularly in the lovely wintry sun; the queue to ascend in the lifts however was a less inviting sight and we decided we would leave that experience to the following morning when the crowds would be less large. Instead we headed to the Notre Dame, firstly visiting its Crypt which exhibited the story of how Paris came to be built over the years. My favourite part was the interactive 3D simulation of the making of Notre Dame! We also entered into the cathedral itself, however I found the throng of tourists inside made the visit slightly unpleasant. It felt very much like a tourist attraction with much too many people rather than somewhere sacred. 

Opposite the Notre Dame, we happened upon the Hotel-Dieu Hospital, one of the oldest in Paris, and an intriguing place. Though very much a working hospital, visitors are allowed to wander the pretty grounds and I later found out you can stay in the little hotel they have there. I'm not sure how I would feel about staying in a hotel within a hospital, but it is probably worth a try at some point in the future! 

We rounded off the afternoon with cheesecake and souvenir shopping before jumping onto a night bus tour of the city - very interesting and a welcome break for our weary legs! 

Day 2

Slightly bleary-eyed but armed with coffee and pain au chocolat, we headed straight to the Eiffel Tower where sure enough even though the ticket offices were not yet open there was already a queue - half the length of the previous day's however! Glad with our decision to postpone our visit to this morning, we waited patiently for 9:30am to arrive. It did but no staff seemed to appear... at around 9:45am beige-clad workers started to mill around but it wasn't until a very cold 10am that finally the barriers were lifted! Luckily the views at the summit melted our slightly annoyance at French punctuality - the Iron Lady of France does have a spectacular view of Paris! 

From the Eiffel Tower it was on to the Louvre (with more croissants!). The building was far larger than I had expected and one would probably need a full day or more to see everything but we were happy to visit just the Denon wing, the one which houses the Mona Lisa. It didn't take us long to find another crowd of people in room 6 where the painting dutifully hangs. I'm not sure it's worth all the hype, but agree her eyes do seem to watch you around the room!

Under the pyramid of the Louvre; and the crowds around the Mona Lisa

From the Louvre we walked along the Seine towards St Germain (a locality in south east Paris), passing the little book stalls along the banks and the thousands of "love locks" on the Pont des Arts. After more wandering around the Latin Quarter unsuccessfully looking for falafel wraps we had heard rave reviews about, we ended up having crepes instead near the Jardin du Luxembourg - I did not mind this in the slightest ;) and opted for a Galette (savoury crêpe made with buckwheat flour), with creamed spinach, and generous helpings of smoked salmon. 



From here we headed to the Centre Pompidou, kind of Tate Modern + Barbican Centre that houses a permanent modern art collection as well as temporary exhibitions, and a cinema or two. I had really wanted to see the Salvidor Dalí retrospective - the largest in over 30 years of his works, however there was again another long queue at the Centre. The building itself was beautiful though and with our EU passports, we were free to visit the permanent collection and also the viewing gallery. The viewing platform was stunning and unexpectedly different to the Eiffel Tower - the escalators take you just above the rooftops and so can see Paris' pretty skyline as opposed to having an aerial view. (Even if you are over 25 years, this only costs 3 euros and is well worth it!) The permanent collection was also worth seeing and a lovely end to our trip. 

Centre Pompidou

For those interested, the Dalí exhibition moves to Madrid's Reina Sofia Musueum from March - September... I think I might have to pop over there in the summer!

À bientôt!

-Tips for trips to Lake Como:

• The off-peak season is a great time to visit - probably around March - April would be slightly better than February as more attractions like villas, and restaurants, will be open
• There are many apartments in the area - read them up on Tripadvisor (type "appartments Lake Como") - Balcon Fiorito where we stayed can be found here: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g194821-d620172-Reviews-Balcone_Fiorito_Bed_Breakfast-Menaggio_Lake_Como_Lombardy.html
• Fly to Milan Malpensa and hire a car from there, Como is about an hour away. (Travel here without a car is difficult)
• It's easy to fit in a trip to Milan with Como as we did, or even Switzerland which is just beyond the North side of the lake
• Milan has lots of excellent food establishments - again Tripadvisor is great for this - two must-visit places I would recommend are Pizzeria Spontini (there are several branches)for pizza even the Italians say is good, & Ciccolati Italiani for sumptuous ice cream
• If you happen to live in ballet flats like me, Lolita is a great shop immediately next to the large Zara by the Duomo (photo above)
  
  

-Tips for short breaks to Paris:

• Plan where you might eat beforehand - avoid touristy/shopping districts - local bakeries are on practically on every street corner and are great for quick pitstops. Paris is also any foodie's dreamland!
• Think carefully about how much you want to walk or take the metro - it may be better to invest in a day metro pass or carnet of 10 tickets
• Prebook exhibitions and attractions where you can to avoid queues however remember this means your itinerary will be less flexible
• Revise a little of your GCSE French, a little goes a long way!
• Visit before you are 25 years old if possible as many of the attractions e.g. Louvre, Centre Pompidou & Eurostar offer discounts/free entrance to EU citizens under 25 (Bring your passport to all attractions)
• If you don't want to queue for the Eiffel Tower or pay so much for a bird's eye view of Paris, the Centre Pompidou offers a much cheaper (3 euros) option that is also stunning!