My HouseTrip apartment was a tight squeeze up 5 flights of stairs. I huffed and puffed as I dragged my suitcase to the room, cursing my lack of upper-body strength. The floor was unevenly paved, and the kitchen was just big enough for the fridge door to open. Outside of the window, I could spot grey tiled rooftops through the gaps in the scaffolding outside the neighbor’s window. Down below, the art galleries and artists of the 6th arrondissements were starting to wake up. Tourists will soon pour in.

The June weather was a cool 15C and high of 20C. It was perfect for me - warm enough for this Canadian girl to absorb some vitamin D but breezy enough to still wear fashionable layers while marching down Champs Elysee.

Welcome to Paris France.
Long time readers of Just-In-Time know that I spent 3 months studying in Paris. During this time, I met great friends, ventured all throughout France and Europe, and consumed more bread than I had in my entire life until that point. It was also this time that I discovered THE secret to loving and staying sane in Paris.

Underneath the lust from the city of lights, Paris will exhaust you with museums, lines, stairs, dog poop on sidewalks, and sweaty metros. The secret to a great trip in Paris - the kind that you imagine your friends are having when they post pictures of the French capital on their Facebook - is to spend only 50% of your time being a tourist, and the other 50% of your time just being present.

To be precise, you should spend 30% of your time seeing the touristy places, 20% of your time on foot because you are in transit, and 50% of your time taking long meals, people watching on the Seine, or reading books at a hole in the wall coffee shop.

See only the few museums and cathedrals that your brain will accommodate. Stay in an art student’s Parisian apartment if you want to. Walk everywhere and waste time because that’s what locals do. Eat oysters 3 times a day, and spend the rest of the day finding the next best oyster restaurant. Sleep in, do nothing, and the next day, repeat but this time with 3 meals of crepes.

My rental apartment was within walking distance of prominent sights such as the Notre Dame, Louvre, and Musee D’Orsay. In the early mornings, aided by jetlag, I would avoid the tourists and wonder these historic gems alone. In the afternoons, I would escape to cafes and galleries famous only to the locals. My days were planned  around avoiding crowds - probably not dissimilar to the mentality of Parisians. In a city as large as this one, I loved going unspotted. I could visit whatever shop that I read about in some small time blog and waste time watching lovers at Pont Des Artes.

After a long day wasted sipping coffees, I decided to climb up the Notre Dame. I was at the top of the city, and Paris spread out at my feet.

Just like Toronto has been obsessed with oysters, I also find myself eating more oysters everywhere I go. On my recent trip to Paris, I visited Huitrerie Régis - a specialized oyster bar that offers some of the best oysters you can find in Paris.

Snuggled in the 6th arrondissement, Huitrerie Régis is a small place that seats 20 people and offers both dine in and takeout oysters. Most oysters in Paris come from Brittany France and that's the origin of the dishes from this shop. Here, freshly-shucked and juicy oysters are served quickly and offered at a very affordable price. Don't forget to ask your server to recommend a great wine that goes with your meal.

Huitrerie Régis
3 rue Montfaucon, 75006
01 44 41 10 07

The list of places to visit in Paris is long. Having once lived there during college, I no longer feel the need to see all the sights when I return to Paris, but I still make it a point to see a my favourite sights in the city. Here is my top 5 places to visit in Paris, for those stopping over for a short stay.

1. Notre-Dame-de-Paris
The famous cathedral overlooks the entire city of lights and it’s free to enter. For a panoramic view of Paris, climb to the bell tower of the cathedral and see Paris spread out at your feet

2.Musée du Louvre
The Louvre is always packed and its expansive wings could take days to go through. To make the most out of time spent at the museum, it’s best to go with a plan of which exhibits you’d like to see. To avoid long lines and wait lines, go in the morning when the museum first opens.


3. Eiffel Tower
The symbol that many associate with Paris, the Eiffel Tower is definitely worth a visit for first-time tourists. Take the stairs and go to the top of the tower to take in a stunning view of Paris. The best spot to view the Eiffel Tower is at the Trocadero - across the Seine from the tower itself.

4. Arc de Triomphe
Stroll the Champs-Élysées all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, avenues spread out from there. For a different view of Paris, climb to the top of Arc de Triomphe at night, and see the streets below it all lit up.

5. Pont Des Artes
These days, there are love locks on several bridges over the Seine. Lovers come to Paris and hang a lock on Pont des Art to symbolize their everlasting love.

The barista beats away behind the counter. He is cleaning plates, steaming milk, orchestrating a loud symphony, yet the patrons are undisturbed. Occasionally, he carefully paints the coffee with steamed milk, leaving a delicate leaf shape in the cup.

I’m at one of my favourite coffee shops in Paris. Although it has been 2 years since I lived in Paris, I still remember my regular spots from those few months I spent studying here. On my short return to Paris, I had just enough time to revisit some old-time favourites of mine and discover some new places on the recommendation of friends.

Forget overpriced and crowded touristy locations, here are some spots I recommend checking out when you’re in the city of lights:

For brunch: Coutume
47 rue Babylone
Paris, France

A popular spot for locals and tourists alike, Coutume serves delicious coffee along with light lunches - a departure from the typical heavy European lunch.


For coffee: Télescope
5 Rue Villedo
Paris, France

Known for its filtered coffee, Télescope is for serious coffee lovers. Your drink will also come with the friendly explanation of the barista who usually explains where you coffee came from, its flavour, and how it’s made.


For art-lovers: Saint-Germain-des-Prés
6th Arrondissement
Paris, France

You can spend your entire day wandering the art neighborhood of the 6th arrondissement. Pick any art gallery and admire the beautiful paintings, photographs, and sculptures.


For pastries: La Patisserie des Rêves
93 Rue du Bac
Paris, France

I stepped into when seemed like a museum of pastries - all the desserts were kept in glass cases. Indeed, these beautifully crafted dessert please both the eyes and the taste buds.