I think that just about everybody has understood by now that it is important to look as much like a tourist as possible when one visits Paris. Obviously, tourists receive much better service than locals. After all, the locals are obliged to use the nearby cafés and restaurants no matter how bad they are, but tourists go all over the city constantly and can only be attracted by good service and prices. In addition, tourists receive a lot of assistance from the Parisians, who feel sorry for them, coming to a big heartless city without knowing the language. Most Parisians will go out of their way to help you if they know you are a tourist. If you have disguised yourself as a local, they will probably spit on you. And don't forget that if Paris is one of the fashion capitals of the world, it is entirely thanks to the tourists who have provided original fashion ideas which the French seek to emulate.

It is therefore with great humility that I offer you a photo essay on how to look like a tourist in Paris: http://tinyurl.com/qo9v8a

Hello Kerouac - Just rolled in from Paris yeasterday after a very active 9 days not without pain and suffering.
Trip report in a week or so with photos.

When I walked by your apartment I yelled at the top of my lungs "Hello Kerouac"! Your windows were shut so I guess you didn't hear me..........ha ha!

Thanks for the tourist photos - none of me! Whew!

You naughty person you!! Great shots, at least you didn't get me. I think some of those shots are actually locals trying to look like tourists! Some succeeded as well. Haven't looked for the pickpocket yet.
Schnauzer

Ouch! I wouldn't be seen taking out the garbage dressed like some of those folks.

More great photos! We do look like we need to be on What Not to Wear!

Is the pick pocket the fellow in sunglasses with a white, red, and blue striped shirt, looking down at a woman's purse?

I always enjoy your photo essays! I was actually just in Paris last month and - no lie - thought to myself, "I hope I don't end up in one of Kerouac's posts!" Happy to report that I'm clear for this one.

<i>Is the pick pocket the fellow in sunglasses with a white, red, and blue striped shirt, looking down at a woman's purse?</i>

No, that is not the person.

Darn, I was hoping you would have gotten my DH so I could show him how much he really stands out.

Well, my photography locations were the Champs Elysées, in front of Notre Dame and around the Louvre and the Tuileries. I know that I should have added the Eiffel (Evil) Tower.

(Evil = private joke from the photo thread)

Do you deliberately snap only the sloppily dressed?

No, I did not. I snapped the most obvious tourists in the most obvious tourist locations. I am sure that some of these people dress up quite nicely when they are going to an expensive dinner in the evening.

Which is the disguise?

Hahahaha! Who cares....when traveling the least of my worries is what I'm wearing, then again, I never look like that! Hahahaha!

Apparently, you need to have a sweater around your waist in order to walk around Champs Elysées. (Note to self: by a white sweater, white tennis shoes, and some plaided shorts.)

I don't think that everyone in the photos looks awful. Some look neat and doing their best, despite being far from home, in different time zones, and trying to see a good many sights in a strange city, to look neat and presentable.

Is the frustrated pick-pocket behind a large guy in a white polo shirt accompanied by a small woman in leather jacket?

The person with the cherries on his/her front, seems to have his/her backside on back to front.

<i>white polo shirt </i>

Not a white polo shirt either!

I swear that the person with the cherries on his/her front has their backside on back to front.

Is it the gypsy lady??

And I was worried about what to wear for our upcoming trip. Now I think I might be overdressed? The only thing that will make me look like a tourist will be the teeny tiny Canadian flag pin that will be on my collar or purse strap. Other than that, I shall be dressed as I would normally be if I were going out and about here at home.