Dean and I had our first mini-break, and our second holiday together in Paris. It was a wonderful holiday and I was so sad when it was over. I geuinely loved nearly every second of it, and Dean & I really bonded and grew even closer on the trip.

We travelled vua Eurostar – my favourite way to get to Paris as it is so much less hassel than getting a flight – so quick and easy and brings you slap bang into the middle of Paris.

We had rented an appartment just off the Champs Elysees for the three days, and that turned out to be even better than I expected. It really was a little haven and sooo much better than staying in a hotel room :o)

Day one consisted mainly of travelling, and we reached our appartment at about 3pm (Paris time). We went out and bought a few essentials for the kitchen and then we went on a walk down and along the River Seine and back. On the way back we stopped at a Patisserie and had some yummy pastries. Then, being the tired pregnant woman, I had a long nap.

Then we went out to see Paris by night – which mainly consisted of going to the Trocadero to see the Eiffel Tower, and then walking down to the Tower to go up it. Our plan was not without hitch as the queue to go up it was huge, and we ended up standing for about 90 minutes, and I was feeling quite poorly by the time we reached our turn. All the people in tour groups kept getting prioritised above the people queuing normally, which was really irratating because it did mean we were standing in the freezing cold about twice as long as we should have been. Anyway, we did finally get up the Tower despite being knackered and a bit grumpy, and it was lovely to look over the whole of Paris at night.

Perhaps needless to say we went home after that (it was nearly midnight before we got into bed!) and went straight to sleep.

Day two, I woke up shattered! Luckily my lovely fiance made me a cup of tea and I had my cereal in bed, which gave me time to wake up properly :o)

We went up to Montmatre and both got our lucky charm bracelets en route to Sacre Coeur! We had a look around the church and were able to experience some of the full-works service. Before we left Montmatre we had a crepe and then it was onto the tube to see Notre Dame.

We had a wander around Notre Dame, which is just as lovely as Sacre Coeur but very different. Then we crossed the Seine, had a sandwich and took the tube to Place de la Concorde. There was a huge ferris wheel at the entrance to the Tuileries Gardens, and despite both being scared (me being very scared!) we went on the huge ferris wheel. It did have amazing views over Paris, but it was very scary when it stopped at the top to let more people on below!

Then we had a waffle (as a reward for surviving the ferris wheel obviously!) and walked through the Tuileries Gardens, up to the Louvre, and back again, walking to get the metro at the bottom of the Champs Elysees.

By this point we were both shattered, but we still wanted to go up to the Arc de’Triomphe and walk up it. So we just about managed to get the energy to go up the 284 steps (which doesnt sound like a lot, but we had done a LOT of walking, and I was pregnant at the time!!!)

Then we went back to the appartment, where I had another long sleep in order to try and regain some energy so that we could go out for dinner. Dean and I also had some of our own quality time ;o)

Then we found a little Italian place just off the Champs Elysees, which was within a very tiny walking distance (my main criteria for the evening) and affordable. The food was great, and we went home for more quality time.

Day three, we went to get breakfast from the Patisserie, and then ate it in the flat before we had to vacate it by 11am. It sounds odd, but it was a really special meal, and I was really sad to leave.

Anyway, then (carrying our bags with us) we went on one final wander round Paris before we had to head back to Gare du Nord and our Eurostar home. We went back to the Trocadero to see the view of the Eiffel Tower and over Paris in daylight, and then we went down to the Pompidou Centre, before ending up in a coffee shop in Les Halles shopping centre.

All the in all, the trip was WONDERFUL and I felt that it really brought Dean and I a little closer together. I didn’t feel like we were drifting before the trip or anything, I just really felt like it cemented us further, and it was so nice to have some quality alone time.

I definitely want to return to Paris with Dean again one day. Although I had been before, I feel that we created some really special memories there which I will cherish forever.