Any excuse for a kir.

This evening I took part in a regular event for Sciences Po students but something which would be considered a little less ordinary in other universities, drinks with my teacher.

This is a normal way to end your semester classes at SP but really just another French excuse to get to socialise and drink wine. We met at a cute wee bar in the 5th near St Michel, a good area for a nice drink. A lot of people were studying so there were just a few of us (a lot of the people in this class are French, hence their need to study) and it was a great chance to get to know the few that went.

Turns out my teacher is pretty cool and extremely nice (even more surprising considering she's American). She actually is distantly related to the duo who 'started' Hollywood and even performed as a dancer for 18 years before she became a teacher, including on Broadway! Respect.

It was such a nice night and I even received an invitation to spend Christmas with her! Told ya she was cool.

I topped off the night with a walk home along the Seine and detoured past Hotel de Ville, checking out the Christmas lights that sparkle and the giant Christmas trees adorning the entrance. There was even a massive stage being set up that I'm crossing my fingers is an ice rink! Nothing like falling on your butt on hard ice cold floor to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Finally, when I glanced back one last time to see Hotel de Ville in all it's Christmas glory, I managed to catch the Eiffel tower during its hourly sparkling sesh, the twinkling lights that drape the Eiffel basking the city in a magical Christmas glow.