Sundays in Paris taught me two very important words (or perhaps it's just one with the trait d'union): bien-être.
Sundays are when you put everything aside and give yourself a bit of quality time to rest, to breathe, to chill; it's a time-out to fix the mess of the week and get yourself ready for the coming one.
This may sounds like the ideal definition of Sunday which we often fail to stick to, but the French do mean it. Supermarkets and shops (apart from those in touristy areas) will all be closed; sometimes even coffee shops, boulangeries and bistros close too. Or try having your phone stolen on a Saturday night, and the police will teach you well how to take a break on Sundays. (Uh huh, guess who had that.)
Sundays are pretty much fat day-ins. Well, not too over the top (cause, you know, French never allow themselves to get fat) but spoiling yourself with a bit of extra comfort food is actually not a bad idea at all. It could be spending extra 5 minutes to make yourself some scrambled eggs and have an uplifting full breakfast, or going to the only opening boulangerie in your neighborhood for a pain au chocolat. That should make quite a decent brunch :)
Or perhaps, if weather allows, Sundays are perfect for a little picnic, just to be lazy laying on the grass with baguettes, cheese, saucissons and fruits with sunshine blazing through your sunglasses.
Sundays are to have a walk - be it on your own, with your family, going out on a date, or just to interact with the city. Go to Jardins des Plantes, des Tulieries, du Luxemburg, or Place des Vosges for some fresh air and greenery. You will find parents showing their kids plants and beehives, friends catching up on a bench, couples making out (lol). The sound that people make while strolling on rocks and gracefully chit chating is somehow quite calming and therapeutic for the stressful metropolitan life.
Sundays are also the days for museums. It'd funny how it takes your mind off from work and studies, yet at the same time it exites your brain with something new, and make you a tad more culturally refined. And when Paris has soooo many exhibitions going on at all times, almost everyone - the working people, the kids, the elderly, the youth - everyone will go profitent bien when Sundays allow them to.
Of course, Sundays often are for the studious undergrads and masters to be nerdy and finish off schoolwork. But still it goes in line with the idea of getting oneself ready for a better week, non?
Occasionally I still have Monday blues, but Sundays here definitely taught me what it means to have a life. I think Sundays here make me fall for Paris an extra bit harder.
Hope you had a bon weekend! (Or if you didn't... Start planning for the next one!) bis xx
