Exploring Grand London & Exquisite Paris

London and Paris are two of my favorite destinations in Europe. To go back each time would be an unravelling experience distinct from each other.

Though we often hear about Britain and France’s historical conflicts, these two cities have more in common than you think. Not only are they highly photographed because of the Big Ben and Eiffel Tower, they are also renowned for their massive arts, culture, and culinary scenes. Read further to follow my journey in these two gorgeous metropolises.

I first arrived in London early November to complete my last design studies module at the British Academy of Interior Design. Finally, one last step before I complete my two-year program! My classes were held at the open campus of King’s College London, first established in 1829. However, the classrooms themselves looked decidedly contemporary.

3D Flooring - Cubism
15135829_10154218022446936_5674678874325416761_n
15078884_10154218734116936_5082186582932712746_n
Informal classroom is very conducive to creative learning.

Incidentally, I was there during the holiday season which led me to revel in the festive glitz of Oxford Street.

15039497_10154210404221936_6315775826766163278_o
IMG_2753
IMG_2754

I also remember checking into the wondrous Marriott Hotel Marble Arch, with its modern yet cozy interiors. My day to day was made more exceptional with all the sights and modern comforts Europe could give.

15109609_10154212467806936_7374234471627709780_n
15095637_10154212533876936_1513308106718137985_n
15107487_10154212469546936_7933014980007699121_n

A week later, I then transferred to Amba Hotel, where I joined Tina and Jo.

15032089_10154221180676936_2942965813306173526_n
15073407_10154219237236936_885366602021585594_n
15095516_10154220697526936_6869194153161714732_n
FullSizeRender 5
IMG_2746

Covent Garden was our destination for the day, a vibrant district in the West End where there’s more than a bevy of quirky and high-end shops and restaurants.

15027562_10154219309301936_768055916420021743_n
15037293_10154219315411936_4324249916688685536_n
FullSizeRender 6
FullSizeRender 7
FullSizeRender 8
FullSizeRender 35
IMG_4391

We had our dinner – at oddly enough – a Japanese restaurant called Plum Valley in Soho’s Chinatown. It’s a true testament to London’s international character. My friend’s cousin, Nala, who’s a local, also went with us.

15027782_10154219679991936_6753605528956849196_n
15135883_10154219760681936_6124761634388025345_n

Day three was sightly, to say the least. Me and my high school classmate Kelly and her friend Melissa dined at celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen, where we were treated to a feast of artisan meats and a delicious caramel dessert.

IMG_2922
FullSizeRender 30
15036258_10154217210116936_5221679755380692104_n

The Tube was another great stop itself, as it was a remarkably organized and neat transport system. I traveled by train to Albert Memorial, in Kensington Gardens. Westminster Abbey, The Houses of Parliament, and the London Tower Bridge were just a stone’s throw away.

15032797_10154215871826936_7491395093665669092_n
FullSizeRender 82
IMG_0866
IMG_0984
FullSizeRender 21
FullSizeRender 26
15181283_10154231623531936_750156404513083440_n
FullSizeRender 13
FullSizeRender 54
IMG_0267
IMG_2062
IMG_3025 2
IMG_3672
IMG_5657 2
IMG_6133 2
IMG_9844

IMG_9126

We also went to Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen, where we witnessed the changing of the guards.

IMG_7599
IMG_2089
FullSizeRender 79
IMG_8558

We continued exploring London’s international cuisine, at Laduree, a Parisian-style patisserie with heavenly fare.

15109635_10154221926961936_264579513478723788_n

After Laduree, we explored what for many is the epitome of fashion heaven, Harrods. Founded in 1834, this luxury department store is where many Londoners get their dose of retail therapy. We even visited the Princess Diana and Dodi Al-Fayed’s memorial inside, which many tourists pay their respects to.

15078993_10154221931096936_1387117249250209537_n
IMG_1438

By nightfall, we helped ourselves to some gastronomic offerings at The Shard, one of London’s premier fine dining restaurants. I hear Adele, Kate Middleton, and Prince William are regulars. There, we not only enjoyed the food, but a panoramic view of the whole city too.

384291_10154222372271936_3677034630706232865_n
15037081_10154222135556936_3136593482665929888_n
15055706_10154222382931936_6400942728222993565_n
15073434_10154222372266936_3616148339212050086_n
15073526_10154222210976936_9198065392857907522_n
15078659_10154222382971936_4561551329981390889_n
15078693_10154222384231936_355974729966910284_n
15107213_10154222372411936_7384014113452782432_n
15109609_10154222382996936_6522931188164458593_n
15107407_10154222382901936_867238251161325986_n
15170852_10154222372406936_3675648817867004540_n
15109470_10154222372261936_2791588622220562679_n

One of the best things about London is its accessibility to other European cities. The next day, we bid adieu to London and boarded a Eurostar train to Paris via the St. Pancras International station.

15095028_10154215244656936_5791388576013203010_n
15095439_10154223328581936_8892484538301745557_n
15168685_10154223574911936_2009975373431772225_o

Ah, the beauty of crossing the English Channel. We then said ‘bonjour’ as we arrived at the French capital. Our first stop was at the lovely Notre Dame Cathedral, where the golden foliage made the place even more magical.

15085500_10154224164436936_552833948579316723_n
IMG_8642

We also stopped by the Hotel DeVille, which is not actually a hotel, but Paris’ city hall, which houses the Mayor and the local administration.

IMG_5413
IMG_2152

Afterwards, we went to Les Vedettes du Pont Nerf, more famously known as the Bridge of Locks. A popular stop for tourists, the landmark truly reflects Paris as a city of love.

IMG_5812 2
IMG_8772

Our next stop was the Pont de Bir-Hakeim, a steel bridge that crosses the River Seine. Originally named Pont de Passy, it was renamed to commemorate the French Army’s victory at The Battle of Bir Hakeim in World War II.

IMG_7125

The next day, we went to the Fondation de Louis Vuitton, an art museum and architectural gem commissioned by the LVMH luxury group.

15036329_10154224950326936_7980077862385703541_n
15107322_10154224947386936_6227292747077111488_n
IMG_0149
IMG_0569
IMG_3983
IMG_4575

We then stopped by the Sacre-Couer, a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It’s perched on top of the Montmartre, the city’s highest point.

15036753_10154224954946936_5637737914846460690_n
15179029_10154224957251936_4560050095622594776_n

We then visited Galeries Lafayette to have our own dose of Parisian shopping. The Christmas tree display at the center of the department store was massive, and made for happier browsing.

15107205_10154226597661936_4819667298156080154_n
15109444_10154226412561936_8787741756323397206_n
15109499_10154226405571936_3478977819810032125_n

Then, I left Tina and Jo to continue their retail therapy to go to the Angelina tearoom, an elegant patisserie first opened in 1903 by Austrian confectioner Antoine Rumpelmayer.

Angelina Tearoom 2
Angelina Tearoom 3
Angelina Tearoom 1
Angelina Tearoom 4
IMG_9911 2

Night fell, and with it we saw how Paris truly embodies its nickname The City of Lights. From the Louvre Museum, to Trocadero Square (with views of the Eiffel Tower) and Avenue Montaigne, we saw how the city simply glittered.

IMG_8959
FullSizeRender 105
FullSizeRender 106
FullSizeRender 107
FullSizeRender 36

The Centre Georges Pompidou was another gorgeous landmark. When I visited, there was an exhibition that paid tribute to Belgian surrealist artist Rene Magritte. Yet the landmark is probably most famous for being featured in the James Bond film Moonraker that starred actor Roger Moore. Inside, we dined at this picturesque restaurant called Le George’s, with a gorgeous view of the city lights, and of course, gourmet fare unlike anywhere else.

15056443_10154227503386936_747250100107780032_n
15134683_10154227552306936_1700974234974806220_n
14915637_10154227604731936_6012250963721558397_n
15056228_10154227566126936_8479678594896764277_n
15078704_10154227565741936_7062924314620032130_n
15095457_10154227566311936_8898795540849813018_n
FullSizeRender 114
15171062_10154227565231936_3770069376984109323_n
FullSizeRender 118

Alas, our trip to Paris was about to come to an end. On our third and last day, we met up with my former employee Eunice at the stunning Le Plaza-Athenee restaurant, located in Avenue Montaigne. The food was simply marvelous, culinary masterpieces even.

15202612_10154228918206936_4840657502686220805_n
FullSizeRender 85
15056360_10154228807436936_153150658082694635_n
15073542_10154229147171936_2001157645979036460_n
15078615_10154228807451936_7744922720835110333_n
15094373_10154228807421936_587038046482277979_n
15094848_10154228911716936_8365628051810781043_n
15095056_10154228915786936_5561749110685889034_n
15095501_10154229018921936_187997215692571808_n
15134640_10154228911701936_4936043164039207469_n
15134675_10154228915916936_3954265712184002703_n
15178132_10154228916081936_4634181154146940603_n

Afterwards, we once again crossed the English Channel back to London, where more art, culture, and shopping awaited us. I shopped further at Selfridges, where foreigners can conveniently get tax refunds after purchasing.

15171141_10154237425791936_2682381442387954734_n
15178239_10154237425386936_7664587615782447183_n
15179058_10154237425706936_8560716728170551573_n
15219416_10154237425646936_3213623839103206172_n

We then had a full Mediterranean course at Zizzi, an Italian restaurant that serves some of the best pastas in London.

pasta
15202713_10154234152301936_5986966065039469405_n

The shopping and dining doesn’t end there, as we went to the iconic Notting Hill for some banana Nutella crepes at Portobello Market and some specialty book browsing at the Notting Hill Bookshop.

15107468_10154237290191936_3740420048515979076_n
15109406_10154237289916936_9075622612782063511_n
15179012_10154237289896936_8766073552772667877_n
15181601_10154237290631936_991404746746250793_n
15203322_10154237289971936_5310649100189722752_n
15220219_10154237290161936_1261197199011193948_n
15230690_10154237290011936_4125629428927885965_n
15241221_10154237290046936_8267095350586935890_n
IMG_3192

We capped off our day with some world-class theatre at the West End, where we watched a Kinky Boots show at the Adelphi Theatre. The story is set in Northampton, England, in an ailing shoe factory owned by Charlie Price. To save it, he manages to create lines of boots that drag queens and other transvestites can wear. By a long shot, I can say that the show was wildly entertaining, and the performances dazzling and catchy. I was at the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

15085568_10154230469411936_529420156375223862_n
15094438_10154230472056936_7791343650440834043_n
15171283_10154230471851936_4483066754924592016_n
15171334_10154230471621936_4427481117210428542_n
15178959_10154230472291936_8157927148171547140_n
IMG_0536
IMG_2115

After more than a week of exploring in two of Europe’s biggest cities, we finally set aside one whole day of relaxation. By 9pm, we were on a flight bound for Manila. Till we meet again London!

IMG_9105

#JuanderWithUs further for more adventures in familiar and off-the-beaten-path places all over the world.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *