When in Paris - how I fell for trainers

Ah Paris. Can someone take me back? Put me on top of the Eiffel tower with a basket of Laudree macaroons and a cute French guy please. (One who can preferably speak English, since the only French phrase I mastered was Parle Vous Anglais?)

I mentioned the Eiffel tower and I'm pleased to say that me and my friend Scarlet managed to climb the 1710 steps despite the baking heat. Here's a pic of us looking relatively composed before the trek. (note before...)

Had this, however, been a day earlier there would have been some serious problems in climbing that sky high tower. Involving some serious blisters and some equally serious (or rather painful) facial expressions.

Why? Because I had not yet bought my Parisian trainers. I went on holiday with just one pair of shoes (blame the hand-luggage restriction) which were so flat and un-supportive I could feel the ground beneath them. In short, not the type of shoes you want to wear when exploring a new city.......

Not wanting to dampen the mood I gritted my teeth, but by the end of the second day my feet were protesting even more than a gorilla in the Arctic. I knew I had to get some new shoes - fast. The cheapest I could find were always in the region of 100-150 euros..... money that could have gone towards a 3-course meal or even better our tickets to the Moulin Rouge. So I soldiered on.

But then a miracle happened: que a spontaneous trip to Monoprix where I found myself alcohol, sweets and... an awesome pair of trainers. They looked good, they were comfy and they didn't break the bank. For those of you who haven't been to France, Monoprix is basically the French version of Sainsburys. Yes. NOT a fashion store and certainly NOT the place you would go to buy shoes.

But lo and behold, I did. They were an unusual mix - blue and purple - and far from what I normally go for. Nevertheless, they caught my eye and after trying them on, I was sold (or rather, the shoes were).

The rest of the holiday I was like an energetic bunny, bouncing around in what I can honestly call my comfiest shoes to date. I used to think that trainers were just for exercising - how wrong was I.
In fact, the more I saw Paris the more I noticed that fashionable trainers were a thing. French ladies are usually known for their classy/chic clothes but colourful trainers is something that the younger generation of women are also embracing.

And that's including me! Safe to say I came back from Paris not only with some unforgettable memories, a slight tan and a bag load of washing, but a pair of trainers that are now sitting happily in my shoe wardrobe.

Merci beaucoup Paris! (hey, my French ain't that bad)