Shopping in Paris, the City of Light and Love, can be overwhelming. Think New York City on steroids. My friend and I — first-time visitors with an embarrassingly inadequate grasp of the language — took a whirlwind shopping excursion earlier this month. The city glitters in December with holiday lights, and harried shoppers jam the sidewalks and stores. We jostled among them, and you might think about doing the same some Christmas season.
In just four days, we managed to hit some of the city’s unique and exquisite marketplaces, thanks to the help of a hired shopping guide and tips from hotel concierges. And, having solved the issues of shopping navigation, we were able see the Mona Lisa and other Louvre masterpieces, attend an Advent season mass in the Cathedrale de Notre Dame and enjoy the spectacular window displays at Printemps department store.
