There is nothing better than being a true connoisseur of Paris – knowing the INs and OUTs of the city and the lifestyle of Parisians. Whether you’ve just moved here or have been living in the City of Light for a while, let’s see how often you agree with these nine quirks that make Parisians so charming and unique.
PARIS IS THE (OR CENTER OF) THE WORLD
Parisians are very territorial and let everyone know it. The city itself consists of 20 districts or arrondissementseach with its own identity. Plus, Paris is along the river His divided: Rive Droite Parisians, the more artistic and bohemian ones (boho) Residents on the right side of the river would rather die than put their foot on the side Rive Gauche to put, the more ordinary (civil) left side of the river. That would be well below their cultivated level. With all this bias, who has time for cities like Lyon, Lille or Le Havre?
COMPLAINING IS AN ART FORM
The French love to complain, and Parisians have honed this skill: the weather is too warm, the pain au chocolat is too sweet, Versailles is too tacky—you get the idea. Even if this behavior initially horrified you, you learned to be unabashedly blasé, in other words typically Parisian, and to also complain about the never-ending grievances.
GET THE LAST VÉLIB? PRICELESS.
You were pleased when you saw them Vélib´ Bikes: The ability to rent a bike anywhere in Paris for €1 and return it hours later at one of the self-rental stations throughout the city. After braving the dangers of honking buses, unruly taxi drivers and non-existent bike paths, you can now join those who swear there’s nothing more satisfying than the last Vélib´ to have gotten hold of it at a bike station.
UNDERSTANDING THE MÉTRO IS THE FINAL RITE OF CROSSING
Paris is inseparable from that Metro (the subway) and once you move into the city you realize that you feel the same way because the subway is a necessity in Paris. The 14 lines, more than 300 stops and the endless, criss-crossing tunnels create a labyrinth that can be overwhelming and leave even experienced passengers running in circles. However, mastering this labyrinth and no longer frantically searching for your route on a map is a true achievement and should actually be rewarded with the city key.
THERE ARE ALWAYS A SHORTCUT
Paris is all about going off the beaten path for a reason – getting lost for a moment, then reemerging gloriously with a handy shortcut. Yes, that’s exactly the fine Parisian way. Who hasn’t walked through built-up passageways, crossed museum courtyards or used back entrances to save valuable minutes? The Passage du Grand Cerf Shopping gallery_,_ the cobblestone one Cour du Commerce-Saint-André-alley and the Porte des Lions -The entrance to the Louvre is just a few hidden paths off the beaten path.
THE EIFFEL TOWER NEVER GETS BORING
No matter how often you go to sights like this Eiffel Towerdem Triumphal arch or that Grand Palace come along, you never stop being amazed. Paris is truly beautiful and just when you think you’ve seen it all, the city surprises you in unexpected ways, big or small: a ray of sunshine on the Grande Arche or perfectly coordinated raindrops in the basins of the Luxembourg Gardens.
PARIS AWAKENS YOUR SENSES
Whether you have the time on Eiffel Tower Reading in the distance, letting freshly baked bread melt in your mouth, recognizing the unmistakable metallic scent in the subway or running your hand over luxurious fabrics in department stores, Paris pleasantly heightens your senses.
TEXTBOOK FRENCH WILL NOT GET YOU FAR (BUT IT WILL GET YOU INTO LIFE)
Parisians love their slang: bref (in short), BG (handsome guy, attractive girl), bof (I don’t know; ah yes; so so) are all typical examples. If you want to participate in conversations, you need to get your nose out of the textbooks and start a conversation. But be careful! Parisians speak quite quickly, referencing concepts and places you’ve never heard of, and they also reverse syllables and often swallow whole words. However, there is hope for non-Parisians: study pop culture, listen to the radio, take tandem language courses with a local and you’ll get the hang of it!
YOU MUST ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR APPEARANCE
Fashion Week lasts all year round in Paris. Long gone are the days when you could sneak to your mailbox in your pajamas or step out of a supermarket in flip-flops. You now attach great importance to selected accessories, wear a characteristic perfume and master the discreet (but merciless) scrutiny of other Parisians.
