i wanted to thank all fodorites for their help with my questions on Paris.My holiday there was superb.No unpleasent surprises.I think my initial fear of pickpockets was a bit exagerated though i did witness 1 pickpocketing of some elder tourists as they were passing through a metro ticket checker with their luggage.it got stuck and a young guy attempted to "help" them move it.then there were shouts of pickpocket.the young guy gave an innocent look and left.a ratp staff member came down and warned ppl in the station about it and a happy sounding female voice warned us over the PA system.I put my belongings in a TATI bag and hid my money in a money belt.i actually felt quite safe even late at night in the metro.

thanks,
Sam

welcome back and glad you had a great time. Pickpocketing is a univercal city problem. The best offense as you know, is alertness,

I was curious about some things i saw there,and i thought maybe some here can help me: first how do those Parisian automatic toilets work?where does the sewage go? does the floor open up?I was afraid to stay inside to observe how it functions.Also does anyone understand what all those different screeching/crunching noises are on the metro? Finally why arent there any hazard signs warning of the high voltage tracks which are laid on the GROUND! thanks,Sam

Personally, I feel quite sorry for anyone who actually "witnesses" a pickpocketing and does nothing to help the victim.

TopMan - what did you expect the OP to do - personally take responsibility for chasing down the pickpocket? Provide victim counselling to the unfortunate traveller? If its a busy metro station, I am sure it wasn't just the OP, the victim and the pickpocket, so why the tone of your response??

Hi got1tiel
>how do those Parisian automatic toilets work?<

Very well. You have to have the correct change, though.

>I was afraid to stay inside to observe how it functions.<

Very smart. The whole inside is sprayed with disinfectant after it flushes.

>Also does anyone understand what all those different screeching/crunching noises are on the metro? <

Steel wheels against steel rails?

>Finally why arent there any hazard signs warning of the high voltage tracks which are laid on the GROUND! thanks<

What high voltage tracks on what ground?

i think what Topman meant was someone seeing the pickpockets hands still going through the victims bag.In this case the pickpocket appeared completely innocent to people in the line till the victim yelled Pickpocket.

Sam