Bread is a big part of the diet here. No matter where you are, just look around and you’ll see a bakery, or boulangerie. There’s always one open, even on the holidays.

You buy what you need, when you need it. It’s common to go to a bakery in the morning and again in the afternoon, and your croissant or baguette will likely be fresh and still warm from the oven. The smell and taste are so good it’s hard to resist eating them while you’re walking back to the apartment.

It’s a big deal when a bakery closes for vacation.