Sap, I have been told they are either pickpockets or distractions for pickpockets. Have no way of knowing if that is true though.

The Senegalese vendors are far too busy trying to sell their wares to also pickpocket the customer. Suzanne2, can you give the name of the person who told you this amazing information?

I have no idea who said it. I just remember being told that years ago and it stuck in my mind and caused me to be wary of them ever since. I think it was along the lines of while you are haggling with the vendor or getting your money out, or whatever, someone else picks your pockets.

I realize it is probably hogwash like so many things that get started along these lines.

I did purchase one of those light up sparkling Eiffel Towers (from the gift shop). My grandson loves it.

When I was in Paris briefly a few years ago, we haggled with the first vendor then waved our souvenir at the others who approached us.

This visit (I'm in Paris now) we found Eiffel Tower cheese graters and keychain bottle openers at Pylones (Isle St. Louis) and Eiffel Tower cookie cutters at E. Dehilleron (near Les Halles)

No, no. What I meant was that the vendors are doing a job INSTEAD of pickpocketing and should thus be supported for being honest workers.

How does that explain the police raid? I know they crack down on folks selling things like knockoff handbags.

The police raid is because these are undocumented aliens selling illegally imported goods. Nothing to do with pickpocketing.

Kerouac, I enjoyed your story of "your gypsy". You are such an interesting person.

Let me see if I can find some of the pictures of her...

She is at #15 and #27 of this link:
http://www.anyportinastorm.proboards...ay&thread=2710

why stereotype a whole group of humans most of whom could could do better than us if they only had our upbringing?

I loved seeing those picture. They are both adorable. These folks are not so different afterall. I hope that little guy has recovered. I always wonder how they get the children to sit quietly with them all day. I know my kids would never sit in one spot for more than a few minutes.

I definitely think one of the photos of her (wearing a sweater) has the makings of a Mona Lisa. The look in her eyes - and she has the faintest hint of a smile around the corners of the mouth.

After reading a recent Fodor's post referencing "Paris, j'taime", I went to the IMDb to read the movie's plot summary. At one point, mention was made of "a reappearing mysterious character who is a witness to the Parisian life." I instantly thought: That's our kerouac!

In May we were walking along Quai Branly when the souvenir vendors packed up, almost in unison, and all ran in the same direction toward Pont d'Iena. They all seem to have spread out their wares on blanket-like cloths with rope handles at two ends, allowing them to pick them up quickly, with the items safely inside, and run at a moment's notice. As soon as they started to move, we saw two teams of police walking toward the Quai. I did not realize that the vendors were likely to be illegal--I thought they were probably from North African former colonies that allowed them entry to France--but assumed they were chased away because they had no business permits and were unfair competition to legitimate merchants.

2 weeks ago I bought a foot tall metal Eiffel Tower at Cost Plus Imports & am using it as a doorstop.

She sure looks different without the layers of clothes. She is really pretty and the photos are very touching. She is just a young girl herself.

She reminds me of the gypsy girl I spoke with in Moscow. I was waiting outside my hotel and she was begging nearby and came and sat near me to rest a bit. I started the conversation and was also truly touched by her, she spoke nearly perfect English and we chatted for about an hour until an older woman angrily called her back out to the street. I still remember her sweet face and her lot in life and I wonder what she is doing now 10 years later.

The more clothing she removed, the younger she became. I think she is very young. She has given me food in the past (canned goods that she didn't want!) and she also gave me a motorcycle decal decoration kit to thank me for the photos printed. (Stolen? Found?) How many gypsy beggars do you know who give you presents? Yes, I regularly give her a few coins and sometimes a luncheon voucher, but at the same time, I refuse to pay a toll for going home!

Hey, do any of you need a motorcycle decal decoration kit?

she seems to be more generous than some of us!

After reading a post on TA I realized that perhaps it was not the vendors at the EF tower that were making me feel uncomfortable.

I just read a TA post in which the poster described how she was mugged outside the Basilique St Denis by "3 young black men." Although this was a horrible incident, and I really felt for the poster, I could not agree with her conclusion that "The dead kings of France live among animals." That was way too ironic for me--the dead kings of France never committed horribly violent crimes? Wars? Cruel and unusual punishments? Oppression? The African vendors are chased off, but American financial CEO's are bailed out. The sorrows of Empire, yes?