Diplome de Patisserie

It's official. I have a Diploma in Patisserie from Le Cordon Bleu!!!

The chefs have been calling me Kirsty for nine months, but it's spelled correctly on my diploma.  I stopped correcting them after awhile.  I'm just adding it to my list of nicknames.

Receiving my diploma from Chef Yonn, my favorite cuisine chef

He has taught some of my classes and is very encouraging.

Congratulations from Head Patisserie Chef Julie

I know - I make terrible faces

Receiving my medal from Chef Loic, Head Cuisine Chef

Part of my group

More of my group

More friends

And more friends - Hasina on the left was my guest for the graduation

My favorite - Chef Graeme

Head Patisserie Chef Julie

The venue - The Royal Courts of Justice

Inside

Inside

I'm really trying to catch up on my blog so I'm doubling up this time.  My cousin Megan was in Oxford for about five weeks (mid-June to July) and invited me to go to Disneyland Paris after her program was finished.  We arrived in Paris on a Saturday night, checked into our hotel, and had dinner at restaurant near our hotel in a really cute neighborhood.  Sunday morning I got an email from my mom telling me to watch out for the bike race.  I'm a little embarrassed to say I had no idea the Tour de France was going on.  I have not been good at keeping up with the news since I've been over here.  We looked up the Tour de France schedule and found out it was finishing that day at the Champs Elysees.  We decided to check it out.  First we walked over to the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.

Megan and I on a bridge over the Seine River

The Louvre

Megan and I waiting for the Tour de France riders to come by

There was a parade of sponsors that came by while we were waiting

These guys came by saying they were our "Sexy Show"

Still waiting

First set of riders coming by the first time

Video of riders

The first guy in the picture is from the US

Megan having French macarons and coffee at the Angelina patisserie

Tuiliere Gardens (outside the Louvre) with the Eiffel Tower in the distance

Notre-Dame in the distance

The Eiffel Tower

Boat cruise along the Seine

View from the boat cruise

View from the boat cruise

We spent Monday at Disneyland Paris.  Thanks to my wonderful cousins who work at Disneyland, I've been able to visit the parks in California quite a few times over the past few years.  I do enjoy going.  It's all about who you go with.  And I had a great time with Megan at this park.  There are actually two parks - Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios.  We started off in Disneyland and had lunch there.  We went to Walt Disney Studios for a couple hours to ride the tram ride 

On the train to Disneyland Paris

Bienvenue

We're cute

Usually I'm the one doing all the planning (and probably driving people crazy),

but I left Disneyland up to Megan

It's a Small World

Walt Disney Studios

There was a tram ride going through Hollywood Studios.  The little girl was cuddling up next to Megan during the fire and rainstorm scene, but I think Megan looks more scared.

Back to Disneyland for "Tea Time." 

Only at Disneyland Paris would you find a chocolate hazelnut Mickey brioche.  I had two.

Captain Eo is back at Disneyland!

And the 3D glasses are just as cool as the 80's hair and dancing in the film

This was near the Pirates ride, but it actually made me think of Goonies

Indiana Jones ride - the worst ride

They weren't kidding.  The Haunted House had some pretty scary stuff.

How about a strawberry tart while we wait for the fireworks?

Disneyland Paris has way better snacks than Anaheim.

Disney's Fantillusion Parade before the fireworks

Two Miller girls in Paris

Climbing to the 2nd level of the Eiffel Tower.

You have to ride a lift to the very top.

Champagne at the top of the Eiffel Tower

The lift in our hotel was very French - small 

Waiting for the Metro to take us to the airport with our last bag of French pastries

Back in London

The London Eye

Megan and I on the Eye

These are the capsules that you ride in

View of House of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey from the Eye

View of St. Paul's Cathedral from the Eye

Megan packing.  This has kind of been me this week and will definitely be me in two weeks!  Crazy!

Now I'm off to Barcelona and Portugal until the 23rd.  Then I leave London and arrive at LAX on the 25th.  I can't believe it's almost time to leave!