APRIL IN PARIS COULD MEAN--SHOPPING!

By Mary Kennedy                                      

When you think of "April in Paris," do you think of love, romance, fabulous restaurants, lunches and café crèmes  at trendy cafes like Café Le Bonaparte? (The Bonaparte, by the way, is my go-to café in Paris. If you're in the St. Germain-des-Pres area, I hope you try it!)

                                                                          

.                                                                

And a trip to buy some Chanel perfume is always appealing...

                                                                            

But what if you're looking for that "je ne sais quoi," that certain something to bring home with you. Maybe it's for yourself or for a gift.  It could be a beautiful piece of Lalique crystal...

                                                                              

Or an antique compact mirror...    

If you want something out of the ordinary and truly unique, hit the Paris flea markets. You never know what you'll find.

                                                                        

Wear comfortable shoes and bring a sandwich and a drink or buy something to eat from a stand.  You have a lot of exploring to do!

                                                                           

And bargaining is not only encouraged, it's expected! Don't buy the first thing that catches your eye--you might find something better two stalls down. And don't be afraid to offer 20% less than what they're asking. It may work, it may not, you never know.

                                                                              

 I used to always go to the flea market at Place Clignancourt, but I recently heard about one at Saint-Ouen that sounds interesting. As always, do your homework! There are loads of maps and suggestions online, giving the addresses, the hours of operation, etc.

Mary Kennedy