Lille

Last Friday we hopped onto the Eurostar and set off to the city of Lille in the North of France. Normally I am pretty sharp in researching destinations but for this trip I had been very shabby indeed. Our plan was to walk around and stumble upon stuff and that's just what we did. The city itself is actually fairly impressive, with an old part, a modern centre and the usual scruffy corner. Some great markets, snobby restaurants and a kaleidoscope of locals that seemed to appear from behind potplants and out of gutters and swarm into the open spaces and shopping streets in the evening.

We had a great relaxing weekend that ended on a high with us being upgraded to 1st class on the way home. Bottomless champagne and wine, yes please!