I remember having a ton of congestion. I was blowing my nose almost nonstop. I didn't have particular issues breathing. I did cough quite a bit, I thought I had bronchitis, which I have had a few times before, along with a bad cold.
I have not been sick since other than that brief reaction to the shingles vaccine. In France, other than the airplane and CDG, I didn't have much exposure to people. We got a rental car and drove straight to our daughter's house. The plane was about half full as I recall, it being January. Not many folks go to France in January.
The weather there is pretty icky in winter.