Any really bad experiences of Paris?
Feb 10th, 2006, 12:21 PM
#5
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I was followed, harrassed and basically backed to a doorway by a thug who kept trying to trip me. I kept walking but my partner(who was walking ahead of me) finally turned around and noticed this thug was trying to get me into a doorway. He yelled at him when he noticed two more thugs who were coming from other doorways to join in. His yelling startled them. Thug#1 reached in my pocket, grabbed some change and was out of there. So much for my first day in Paris. Needless to say, the rest of the trip went well. Paris was nice, but I felt I had to always be on alert.
Feb 10th, 2006, 12:23 PM
#6
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We saw pickpockets in line at the Louvre and watched a German lady smack one upside the head, as we say here in KY. A homeless man who cursed fluently in English joined us for dinner at a pizza hut until the manager threw him out. That's about it, other than that I felt much safer there than I did in Amsterdam or some American cities. There was some panhandling on the subways, but not really agressively - they usually put on a show of some sort (singing, puppet, etc), then passed a hat.
Feb 10th, 2006, 12:25 PM
#7
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We have been to Paris at least 5 times over the last 10 years and as recently as this past December. We have been there with our three children 3 of those times and have never had any problems whatsoever. You always hear the pickpocket stories and some of that does happen, but if you just use some common sense about not showing all your money or looping your fanny pack through your beltloop, you shouldn't have any problem. We walked through all of the areas of Paris and with the exception of the Moulin Rouge area late at night,we felt very safe at all times. I heard a good line from a Frenchman I met in Paris. He said, "the difference between major American cities and Paris is that in Paris you may be robbed, but they won't hurt you. In America, they will rob you, and hurt you."
Feb 10th, 2006, 12:32 PM
#8
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A dirty drunk guy grabbed me and kissed me at about 4 am on New Year's morning, but I guess I deserved it for being out so late. When I asked my husband why he didn't stop him,he said, "You didn't seem to mind when all those other [young cute] guys kissed you!"
Feb 10th, 2006, 01:27 PM
#9
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was walking down the street and a man coming the other way started to slap/poke at me with very quick actions up at the face then down toward the stomach and all around. i soon realised he was trying to throw me off so he could go in at the pockets. i successfully blocked each attempted slap/poke included the pocket attempt. i slipped around him to continue walking the other way. on my way by, he trapped me a good one on the neck...a real punch this time. hurt like hell but i kept on walking. no big deal in the end but this was the only time in my life i was assaulted on the street and i have lived in major cities all around the world.
Feb 10th, 2006, 02:59 PM
#11
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My week-long visit went great last September, until we went to the airport to go home, and discovered my husband forgot his Green Card to get back into the States.
I had to leave him behind, and he had to go to the Consulate the next day to get his flying papers...but I guess in the end it wasn't all bad. My husband got a couple of extra days in Paris he wasn't counting on, and in the end, the French <i>did</i> return him to me.
Jules
I had to leave him behind, and he had to go to the Consulate the next day to get his flying papers...but I guess in the end it wasn't all bad. My husband got a couple of extra days in Paris he wasn't counting on, and in the end, the French <i>did</i> return him to me.
Jules
Feb 10th, 2006, 03:31 PM
#15
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Have been to Paris at least 12 times and the worst thing I have seen is a woman who sprained her ankle when she tried to run down the Metro steps in stilletos.
I'm sure there is minor crime - as there is anywhere. But if you take normal precautionns and don;t walk down dark alleys at 3am you should be fine.
I'm sure there is minor crime - as there is anywhere. But if you take normal precautionns and don;t walk down dark alleys at 3am you should be fine.
Feb 10th, 2006, 03:46 PM
#16
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I was harassed by street walkers/prostitutes in a seedy area of Paris one time.
I was walking along with two male friends, one on each arm, which seemed to upset the girls.
We had gotten lost trying to find a restaurant and made a few wrong turns and ended up on their turf.
I have no idea what they were saying but I don't think it was "welcome to Paris". All the men did was speed up the pace until we got a few streets away. Well, we were outnumbered....by alot....and they looked like tough cookies!!
I was walking along with two male friends, one on each arm, which seemed to upset the girls.
We had gotten lost trying to find a restaurant and made a few wrong turns and ended up on their turf.
I have no idea what they were saying but I don't think it was "welcome to Paris". All the men did was speed up the pace until we got a few streets away. Well, we were outnumbered....by alot....and they looked like tough cookies!!
Feb 10th, 2006, 09:34 PM
#20
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Not me thank goodness, but last Oct. my friends that were with me had backpacks and were pickpocketed as we entered the Concorde Metro station.Lost a wallet & 300euros.
I never flash my wallet in public so they (the pickpocks) can't see where I am carrying it.
I never flash my wallet in public so they (the pickpocks) can't see where I am carrying it.
