By Jeannie D
Ah, Paris! The city of lights, croissants, and, of course, the greatest Games of them all. Or so I thought… Until I decided to do a spontaneous detour from Portugal to Paris for one glorious weekend, ready to bask in the excitement of all the sporting action, only to find it impossible to get hold of any last-minute event tickets.
Faced with the lack of any real Olympic excitement, I thought why not go for gold anyway? A gold medal in shopping, that is! So if you ever find yourself in Paris with a shortage of sporting events but a surplus of euros on your oh-so-convenient Shyft card, let me guide you to sartorial victory…
### Day 1: A Marathon in the Marais
The first stop on my shopping podium was Le Marais district. If you want a mix of trendy and timeless, this neighbourhood is basically Parisian fashion’s gold-medal match. I kicked things off with a stroll down Rue des Francs-Bourgeois – an event that quickly turned into a shopping triathlon. Known as the best single street for casual shopping in the city, I conquered a dizzying array of quirky boutiques, independent French parfumeries and local jewellers like a champ. I also snagged a vintage scarf so chic, it practically waved at the Eiffel Tower, and a pair of Ben Simon sneakers that made me question if I’d ever wear heels again.
### Day 2: Sprinting Down the Champs-Élysées
No trip to Paris is complete without a lap around the Champs-Élysées. This iconic street is like the 100-meter dash of shopping: fast-paced, full of adrenaline, and over before you even realise your wallet has had to go on life support. From luxury brands like Louis Vuitton (where I got a handbag personalised) to high-street French labels like Zadig & Voltaire, I sprinted through them all. I even found a Maje dress I’d been drooling over in London at 50% off in Paris. Double Score!
I also took a quick detour to Ladurée because, let’s be real, every champion needs a quick sugar fix. A macaron tower may not have been part of my original game plan, but can you imagine the podium photo? Gold medal: me. Silver: pistachio. Bronze: rose petal. J’adore!
### Olympic-Style Souvenir Hunting
Shopping for vintage knickknacks felt like the closing ceremony of my weekend, except instead of fireworks, I celebrated by trawling through Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen: the world’s largest antique market in the world. Although many a high-end antique can be purchased here, my energy levels were starting to wane, so I stocked up on cute trinkets for friends and family, and an Eiffel Tower keychain for myself, and rehydrated at the nearest wine bar.
### And the Winner Is…
By the time my Parisian weekend was over, I was standing victorious, shopping bags in hand and my poor Shyft card slightly scorched, but triumphant nonetheless. Did I see any Olympic champions? No. But did I feel like one? Absolutely. Sure, I wasn’t awarded an official gold medal, but I did walk away with some shopping gold, and that’s basically the same thing, right?
My Shyft card lets me buy euros, dollars, pounds and Aussie dollars at the cheapest foreign exchange rates in the market – anytime, anywhere, so I can swipe, tap or draw cash abroad knowing I’ve already made savvy savings. Now that’s what I call #jeannieous. Get your Shyft card today by downloading, and registering, on the app.
