Every year I try to visit a different part of the world during the beginning of December to experience Christmas time in a new place. This year I chose to go to London & Paris and invited my mom and younger sister to join me. :)
Day 1 - London
Kensington and Reality Church London
Our first full day in London was magical! We enjoyed the view from our flat in Kensington as we got ready to go to church at Reality London, which was planted by people who taught and went to my church at Reality LA. It was very moving to witness the gospel being preached to the Londoners and see the beautiful work of church planting in action.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London
Being fans of Harry Potter, we were excited to visit the studio where they shot the movies near London! A few favorite moments from the studio tour included seeing the model of Hogwarts, walking around the Great Hall, and BUTTER BEER!
Day 2 - Cambridge
We took a train to one of my favorite places in the whole world - Cambridge, England. This was my first time being back since the summer of 2016 when I had the incredible opportunity to live there and study at the university. I absolutely loved playing tour guide and showing my mom and sister around this beautiful place I once called home.
day 3 - paris
Pink mama
Tucked away on a street corner in the 9th arr. of Saint-Georges is the greatest, cutest restaurant I’ve ever been to called Pink Mamma. I think I took more photos of the restaurant than I did on our entire trip! Yikes! Fortunately, I still had time to enjoy their amazing food and an alcoholic beverage ;)
montmartre
We later walked around a quirky part of Paris called Montmartre where many artists lived at the beginning of the 20th century. It has inspired the work of many incredible artists, like Picasso, Van Gogh, and Monet. While exploring Montmartre, we stumbled across cute boutiques, a quaint Christmas market, and a mural known as Le Mur des Je t’aime that features the words “I love you” in 311 different languages. We eventually reached the top of the hill where the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is and explored the inside of this second most visited church in France.
Night Cruise
We ended the day by braving the cold weather for the gorgeous views of the city via boat on the river Seine!
day 4 - paris
The Eiffel Tower
We made sure to certify our tourist status by climbing the Eiffel Tower! It was fun, and now I can say I’ve climbed it twice ;)
Opéra Garnier
We were excited to visit this 1,979-seat opera house that inspired the author Gaston Leroux when writing The Phantom of the Opera. This ornate opera house has rooms, like the one pictured below, that were modeled after the Palace of Versailles! It has been open since 1875 and still hosts performances by some of the most talented artists in the world. We unfortunately didn’t have time to catch a show, but you can be certain that it has been added to my itinerary for the next time I visit Paris!
Galaries Lafayette
I was on a mission to find some of the best macaroons in Paris and believe I found them at the Galeries Lafayette! We purchased some of the best macaroons in the gourmet section of this upmarket French department store by the French pastry chef Pierre Hermé and ate them all on the Eurostar train on our way back to London.
Day 5 - London
Although I don’t have many photos to prove it, this was probably one of my favorite days in London, because we explored the city by mainly walking around. We spent the first part of the day touring Westminster Abbey. After, we walked through Parliament Square and over the Westminster Bridge to get to the Christmas market at the South Bank, which is where my family and I enjoyed mulled wine and bao for the first time! We later walked through the festive streets of London, stopping at places like Covenant Garden (pictured below) and Neil’s Yard.
Victoria Palace - Hamilton
To say I was stoked to see Hamilton at the Victoria Palace is an understatement. For the past few months, I have been running, working, and driving to the musical brilliance that is Hamilton. The show was incredible, and I definitely teared up during it out of pure joy of being there and from witnessing the amazing company whooaaaaa WORK (if you know, you know)!
Day 6 - London
Royal Walking Tour
We couldn’t leave London without saying hello to the queen! She unfortunately wasn’t home as indicated by the British flag flying above Buckingham palace. However, we were able to enjoy the changing of the guards and say hi to some friendly London police horses.
The Two Chairmen Pub
We slowed down at the pub and spent our time there relaxing, reflecting on our trip over the past week, and eating the kind of food that always satisfies the midnight munchies.
The Tower Bridge & the Tower of London
One of our final stops in London was the Tower of London, a historical castle dating back to the 11th century that was utilized as a prison in the past and houses the crown jewels. The wet and cloudy weather created an eerie ambiance, making our visit to this infamous prison a fun one.
The Shard & London Tube
We used the tube a lot to get around while in London, so I was excited to get this shot of the underground sign with the Shard and London cityscape in the background at the Tower Hill tube station :)
Highlights from the trip:
Hearing my mom squeal with joy when she saw a red double decker bus for the first time in London and watching her excitement as she discovered we would be taking one to get back to our flat.
Watching my little sister, Tara, react with a big smile on her face and lean forward in her chair while watching Hamilton. It was the first time she saw it, and she obviously loved it.
Visiting Reality Church London and Cambridge.
Eating at the Pink Mamma in Paris. That place is seriously the best.
Drinking mulled wine and eating pumpkin bao at the Christmas market in the South Bank of London.