Paris gets back to normal – for now

I happened to be in Paris for work just days after the weekend protests that saw violent clashes, looting and damage to buildings across parts of the French capital.

What began as largely peaceful demonstrations over rising living costs and education concerns turned violent, with rioters smashing shop windows, starting fires and clashing with police.

Across the country, more than 2,400 people were arrested, while nearly 3,000 shops were reportedly affected by the unrest. In response, the French government introduced localized curfews on Monday night, including around Place de la Republique and Les Halles in Paris, with restrictions continuing in some areas on Tuesday.

Having seen the dramatic images on television and social media, I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived on Monday, but to my surprise, everything seemed pretty normal.

Cafes were busy, tourists were out sightseeing, and people were going about their daily lives. I didn't feel unsafe at any point.

Of course, I wasn't staying near the main protest areas, which probably explains why things felt so calm.

When I spoke to some Parisians, they didn't seem particularly surprised by what had happened. A few even joked that protesting was in French people's DNA, calling it something of a "national sport".

On a drizzly Tuesday morning, I decided to go for a jog to Place de la Republique, where some of the biggest demonstrations had taken place, and it was a rather different scene from what I had seen on television.

The square was quiet, with only a handful of people walking around. But there were still plenty of reminders of what had happened just a few days earlier.

Some newspaper kiosks had been burned, while nearby buildings and shopfronts showed signs of damage. In the middle of the square, a team of professional cleaners was busy removing graffiti and dirt from the large statue.

What caught my attention, though, was a group of tourists gathered on their bicycles in front of the statue, listening to their guide before setting off on a morning tour of the city. Nearby, a few journalists and camera crews were setting up their equipment, preparing to report on the aftermath of the weekend's protests.

It was quite a contrast. On one side, workers were cleaning up the mess left by the protests. On the other, tourists were getting ready to explore the city, while journalists were documenting what had happened just days earlier.

That, to me, summed up Paris that morning.

But talking to ordinary people, I also got the sense that while the streets had returned to normal, the frustrations had not gone away.

Most people I spoke to didn't support the violence, but understood why people were protesting.

The cost of living came up again and again. People told me that everything was getting more expensive, while their wages weren't keeping up. Some said they were earning just enough to pay their bills and buy food, with little left to actually enjoy life.

Younger people seemed particularly worried about their future. Even after years of studying, finding a decent job in their chosen field isn't easy.

Several people also felt the government wasn't listening to ordinary citizens or understanding what they were going through.

Others pointed out that these problems weren't happening just in France. Across Europe, people face similar pressures, made worse by the conflict in Ukraine and instability in the Middle East.

As I finished my jog and headed back, Paris was carrying on as usual.

The damage from the weekend was still there, but so were the tourists, commuters and busy cafes — and perhaps that's the reality of Paris. Protests come and go, and people get on with their lives.

But unless the problems that brought people onto the streets are addressed, I wouldn't be surprised to see them back there again.