Life in Paris as a Local

There is so much to do and so many things to see in Paris but what do you do once you’ve already seen the Champs Elysées, The Louvre and the Eiffel Tower a thousand times? In today’s post I thought I would take you with me on this very normal day in my life in Paris.

Send a Postcard

No matter what arrondissement you may be in when you’re exploring Paris there are always so many stands selling postcards with some of the most charming, albeit cliché photographs of the city. When you’re living the expat life that obviously means you have loved ones abroad right? So why not let them know you’re thinking about them by sending them a little token of your appreciation.

We live in a world dominated by social media and communication via digital means and although it may be so easy to send a quick text message, there can be no denying that taking the time to send something physical is so much more meaningful, plus postcards are so cheap so why not surprise somebody with one? Little keepsakes like these go a long way.

Go To a Café On The Île Saint Louis

The terraces on the Île Saint Louis are probably some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Here you can watch the world go by as you relax on one of the gorgeous red wicker chairs and look at the water all around you. The whole area is just so picturesque that relaxing here and taking it all in is the perfect way to appreciate Paris.

Browse the Second Hand Books at Gibert Joseph

There may be a reason why a lot of these books cost 20c but hey, you never know what you might find and at least if the bookstands outside have nothing, you always have the option of going inside the store in search of some bestsellers, chic stationery and views of Parisian architecture as you climb the winding staircases.

Go To The Jardins du Luxembourg With Your New Paper Friend

With a new book to read or a carnet to journal in, heading to the Jardin du Luxembourg in search of some public privacy on a park bench is always a good idea. Not only is the park the perfect place to bask in the sunshine, there’s an Angelina close to la Rue de Vaugirard to satisfy your hot chocolate cravings. Unlike the Angelina on the Rue de Rivoli there is no queue to get in so you can easily chill inside the café with your hot chocolate and your fancy viennoiserie should the weather take a turn for the worst.

Go Thrifting For a New Outfit

Paris is known all over the world for its many vintage boutiques and kilo stores all over the city and it really is so amazing how many hours you can spend just snooping through the rails as your gather the components for your dream ensemble.

If vintage finds that won’t break the bank are up your alley then I would recommend The Coiffeur, 32 Rue des Rosiers which is a thrift store located in an old hair salon where you can find everything from denim jackets to leather bags often for less than €15. For huge hauls try Kilo Shop, 125 Boulevard Saint-Germain or 69-71 Rue de la Verrerie. Here clothing is priced according to weight rather than according to individual items so you can often buy a lot for very little.

For dirt cheap but quality finds it’s always a good idea to check out a Guerrisol which are scattered in many places around Paris but mainly in Barbez. Finally for a little bit more expensive but quality vintage finds with a boho aesthetic I would recommend Hippy Market, 41 Rue du Temple and the bonus of this boutique is that there are many more vintage stores and boutiques all along these little streets too.

So this was a random day in my life in Paris. I really hope you guys enjoyed. What would you do on a normal day in Paris? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

That’s all from me for now. Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you very soon in our next post.

~Mandy xx