Any really bad experiences of Paris?
Feb 11th, 2006, 02:04 AM
#22
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Ira,
Your wife was admitted to the public toilet. You were sent to pee behind a tree. Your wife went to lunch.
You couldn't go to lunch with her because you were arrested for public urination. Right?
Your wife was admitted to the public toilet. You were sent to pee behind a tree. Your wife went to lunch.
You couldn't go to lunch with her because you were arrested for public urination. Right?
Feb 11th, 2006, 02:19 AM
#23
Hi SeaUrchin,
Same thing happened to me. My boyfriend, my friend and her boyfriend and I were probably in the same seedy area and a very tall and robust prostitute shouted at my female friend to leave at once. She was quite aggressive about it and even scared the guys.
Needless to say, we never went to that area again. The guys didn't either.
Same thing happened to me. My boyfriend, my friend and her boyfriend and I were probably in the same seedy area and a very tall and robust prostitute shouted at my female friend to leave at once. She was quite aggressive about it and even scared the guys.
Needless to say, we never went to that area again. The guys didn't either.
Feb 11th, 2006, 02:39 AM
#24
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ANY Paris story is a good one. THe worst thing that happened to us was a heart thumping taxi ride to the airport when it was time to leave. We really thought we were done for. When we lurched to a stop, the cab driver smiled and said in a heavy French accent, "Jus like James Bond, oui?" We still laugh about it 2 years later.
Feb 11th, 2006, 03:05 AM
#25
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Be sensible no matter where you are is always good advice.
But one should be aware that while France was once significantly safer in terms of crime than the United States, that has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades.
By 2001 the crimes per 100,000 in the USA had fallen to 4161 while the French rate had risen to 6941. (as per Interpol)
The trend seems to be more crime in Europe and less crime in the USA.
One should note that this is ALL crimes which may be a bit deceptive. The Homicide rate in France was lower at 3.91 (as of 2000) than in the United States (5.5).
If it wasn't 6AM I'd look for more recent numbers but I haven't been to sleep yet.
But one should be aware that while France was once significantly safer in terms of crime than the United States, that has changed dramatically over the last couple of decades.
By 2001 the crimes per 100,000 in the USA had fallen to 4161 while the French rate had risen to 6941. (as per Interpol)
The trend seems to be more crime in Europe and less crime in the USA.
One should note that this is ALL crimes which may be a bit deceptive. The Homicide rate in France was lower at 3.91 (as of 2000) than in the United States (5.5).
If it wasn't 6AM I'd look for more recent numbers but I haven't been to sleep yet.
Feb 11th, 2006, 03:05 AM
#26
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Was pickpocketed (pursepocketed) in a metro once when surrounded by a group of young thugs. Joke on them they got my small pouch containing asprin, travel hand lotion, ect. My wallet was in the back zipper panel of my purse.
Was out by myself last spring and a man kept following me around asking me out and would not take no for an answer. Finally a salesman at a store started walking me back to my apartment until the other one left, so we thought. Came out of my apartment a couple hours later and the man was standing on the corner and began harrassing me again to go out with him. I had to go into another store and the lady in that store called a beat cop who politely escorted me back to my apartment.
And the last one I kind of instigated. Guy kept trying to sell me one of those handmade pieces of thread to tie around my wrist. I kept waling and telling him no and he kept aggressively trying to sell it. Got on my nerves so I said fine I will by a red white and blue one. Set off a rampage of anti-American screaming in my face. Before I dodged into a store, I gave him a parting shot about the colors being French and I think the word idiot slipped out of my mouth. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, they make them in their native immigrant colors.
Was out by myself last spring and a man kept following me around asking me out and would not take no for an answer. Finally a salesman at a store started walking me back to my apartment until the other one left, so we thought. Came out of my apartment a couple hours later and the man was standing on the corner and began harrassing me again to go out with him. I had to go into another store and the lady in that store called a beat cop who politely escorted me back to my apartment.
And the last one I kind of instigated. Guy kept trying to sell me one of those handmade pieces of thread to tie around my wrist. I kept waling and telling him no and he kept aggressively trying to sell it. Got on my nerves so I said fine I will by a red white and blue one. Set off a rampage of anti-American screaming in my face. Before I dodged into a store, I gave him a parting shot about the colors being French and I think the word idiot slipped out of my mouth. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, they make them in their native immigrant colors.
Feb 11th, 2006, 08:07 AM
#29
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Recall the film "The French Connection" when the cop and the bad guy were playing games getting on and off a subway?
Only, in our case, it happened in Paris, not in New York.
My wife can be a little unobserving. She didn't see the guy with the raincoat draped over his arm (it was a sunny day on the street). I told her to keep an eye on him and get ready to jump from the subway car in which we were riding and standing. She couldn't understand why. I told her to just do as I ordered, as I grabbed her arm and prepared to leave the car as it pulled into a station. The raincoat guy did the same. We jumped back on. He gave us a dirty look as the train pulled away. I explained all this to my wife later -- she is much more street-smart now.
Just keep your eyes open, use your street smarts, and you will do just fine.
Only, in our case, it happened in Paris, not in New York.
My wife can be a little unobserving. She didn't see the guy with the raincoat draped over his arm (it was a sunny day on the street). I told her to keep an eye on him and get ready to jump from the subway car in which we were riding and standing. She couldn't understand why. I told her to just do as I ordered, as I grabbed her arm and prepared to leave the car as it pulled into a station. The raincoat guy did the same. We jumped back on. He gave us a dirty look as the train pulled away. I explained all this to my wife later -- she is much more street-smart now.
Just keep your eyes open, use your street smarts, and you will do just fine.
Feb 11th, 2006, 08:43 AM
#30
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Good advice to keep your eyes open and use street smarts but I would add take off your rose colored glasses. Yes, Paris is one of the most beautiful cities of the world but there are parts that are not so safe.
I have driven though some parts where I certainly would not want to get out of the car. Same as with any big city. Statistics are only so comforting until something happens.
Try not to go to those areas, imho.
I have driven though some parts where I certainly would not want to get out of the car. Same as with any big city. Statistics are only so comforting until something happens.
Try not to go to those areas, imho.
Feb 11th, 2006, 08:52 AM
#31
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If you are looking for "bad travel experiences" you will find them in every city in the world. If you sat and worried about what might happen to you, you would never go anywhere! The best thing is to use common sense and keep your wits about you when you're not in a familiar place.
Here in Portland, OR, I get hit up for change by homeless people, some of them quite aggressive, all the time, so Paris as I remember it seems tame by comparison. I can't wait to go back!
Andrew
Here in Portland, OR, I get hit up for change by homeless people, some of them quite aggressive, all the time, so Paris as I remember it seems tame by comparison. I can't wait to go back!
Andrew
Feb 11th, 2006, 09:14 AM
#32
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Though I cannot cite any specific experience, I was generally let down with Paris. I was staying in a great area (le marais) with my cousin who lives there, and I got to see quite a few great things, but in general it was not a place I would return to or go out of my way to see again. It was like going to a "really fabulous restaurant" where they decantur the wine wrong and serve you food that is just off enough that you have no desire to return.
Claire
Claire
Feb 11th, 2006, 01:58 PM
#33
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Paris isn't particularly dangerous; violent crimes are rare. Most crimes are pickpocketing and the like. In recent years stealing cellphones has become quite popular, although I'm not sure why, since everyone in France already has a cellphone.
The overall crime numbers might be higher in France than in the U.S. (I haven't looked recently), but here again, this counts everything, not just violent crimes.
It reminds me of the bit of the person who kept insisting that Paris was terribly dangerous, with people being raped and robbed daily. I finally asked what he did and found out he worked at the local embassy, dealing with tourists from his country who had been victims of crime. Not exactly a random cross-section of the population.
The overall crime numbers might be higher in France than in the U.S. (I haven't looked recently), but here again, this counts everything, not just violent crimes.
It reminds me of the bit of the person who kept insisting that Paris was terribly dangerous, with people being raped and robbed daily. I finally asked what he did and found out he worked at the local embassy, dealing with tourists from his country who had been victims of crime. Not exactly a random cross-section of the population.
