Paris - avoid if possible
Mar 6th, 2001, 12:54 PM
#1
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Paris - avoid if possible
Bonjour,
Yes, the Parisians will respond to your "Bonjour" with a smile and a "Bonjour." But if you cannot carry the next conversation in French and you asked if the Parisian speaks English, you will get a big "NON!" and a stern stare as if you are a carrier of some exotic and deadly disease.
Having been to Paris three times and wanting to help non-French speaking travelers to Paris adjust to the "unfriendliness" of Parisians, I am writing this message to prepare those "die-hard," non-French speakers to cope with the cold reality of visiting one of the most dirty, graffti-ladened and dog-dung infested cities in the world. Don't spend your time looking at the nicely dressed and perfume clouded young Parisian women - do pay attention to what you are stepping on in the streets.
Also, make your travel plan to Paris not to coincide with some type of transportation/airport personnel strike. Myself and a plane load of Japanese tourists waited at the Lufthansa Charles De Gulle baggage belt for 4 hours before we realized that there is a baggage handler strike. We spent the next two-hours waiting in line to get baggage recovery forms. Needless-to-say my plan for visiting a friend who lives near the Notre Dame Cathedral went up in smoke.
And what about Tour Eiffel? Man, that place is turning into "Little India" with groups of young Indians standing 3 meters apart selling gifts. How did they ever get into France? I though India was a former British colony.
Go and visit Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Munich and even London. But stay away from Paris, if you can.
Au revoir!
Sam
Yes, the Parisians will respond to your "Bonjour" with a smile and a "Bonjour." But if you cannot carry the next conversation in French and you asked if the Parisian speaks English, you will get a big "NON!" and a stern stare as if you are a carrier of some exotic and deadly disease.
Having been to Paris three times and wanting to help non-French speaking travelers to Paris adjust to the "unfriendliness" of Parisians, I am writing this message to prepare those "die-hard," non-French speakers to cope with the cold reality of visiting one of the most dirty, graffti-ladened and dog-dung infested cities in the world. Don't spend your time looking at the nicely dressed and perfume clouded young Parisian women - do pay attention to what you are stepping on in the streets.
Also, make your travel plan to Paris not to coincide with some type of transportation/airport personnel strike. Myself and a plane load of Japanese tourists waited at the Lufthansa Charles De Gulle baggage belt for 4 hours before we realized that there is a baggage handler strike. We spent the next two-hours waiting in line to get baggage recovery forms. Needless-to-say my plan for visiting a friend who lives near the Notre Dame Cathedral went up in smoke.
And what about Tour Eiffel? Man, that place is turning into "Little India" with groups of young Indians standing 3 meters apart selling gifts. How did they ever get into France? I though India was a former British colony.
Go and visit Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Munich and even London. But stay away from Paris, if you can.
Au revoir!
Sam
Mar 6th, 2001, 01:06 PM
#3
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Bonjour,
I do see the good side of things, that is why I would recommend that you visit Vienna, Prague, Budapest..etc. before considering Paris.
Maybe you need to go visit the places I listed above then you would know that Paris, compared with these places, is a real "Much Ado About Nothing."
The Parisians are experts at creating a myth for their city. But experienced travelers can see through this "smoke and mirror."
I do see the good side of things, that is why I would recommend that you visit Vienna, Prague, Budapest..etc. before considering Paris.
Maybe you need to go visit the places I listed above then you would know that Paris, compared with these places, is a real "Much Ado About Nothing."
The Parisians are experts at creating a myth for their city. But experienced travelers can see through this "smoke and mirror."
Mar 6th, 2001, 01:08 PM
#5
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<<Myself and a plane load of Japanese tourists waited at the Lufthansa Charles De Gulle baggage belt for 4 hours before we realized that there is a baggage handler strike.>>
FOUR hours? And you didn't inquire about the problem? A whole plane load of people just sat for FOUR hours staring at the bagage carousel? I can see why perhaps you weren't prepared for a trip out of the country.
FOUR hours? And you didn't inquire about the problem? A whole plane load of people just sat for FOUR hours staring at the bagage carousel? I can see why perhaps you weren't prepared for a trip out of the country.
Mar 6th, 2001, 01:08 PM
#6
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Hey Sam, there's a guy who posts here named Bruce Davidson. The two of you should pair up and travel together, you sound like a perfect match. He can show you what there is to hate in Barcelona and you can show him what there is to hate in Paris. Or better yet, avoid both places so there is more room for those of us who really like to travel to such places.
Mar 6th, 2001, 01:15 PM
#7
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Bonjour,
Yes, myself and a plane load of Japanese tourists waited for four hours at the CDG baggage belt because the few CDG baggage people refused to tell us what is going on - to them, it is "ce la vie -So is life." "You come to see our great city so you will have to put up with what we dish to you."
We were dumb alright. We chose Paris as our destination.
Sam
Yes, myself and a plane load of Japanese tourists waited for four hours at the CDG baggage belt because the few CDG baggage people refused to tell us what is going on - to them, it is "ce la vie -So is life." "You come to see our great city so you will have to put up with what we dish to you."
We were dumb alright. We chose Paris as our destination.
Sam
Mar 6th, 2001, 01:21 PM
#9
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Let's see
This person has an understandably unpleasant delay at baggage claim
because of a strike. This is not bad luck, this is a personal affront. He spends four hours waiting at the luggage carousel. He finds that there is no dirt or graffiti in Vienna, Prague, etc.
He can't just say that he doesn't care for Paris or that he has had unpleasant experiences thre, he's got
to slam everyone and everything in it and take pot shots at an ethnic group as well. And it's the Parisians who he says are unfriendly and who stare sternly at him? Wonder why.
This person has an understandably unpleasant delay at baggage claim
because of a strike. This is not bad luck, this is a personal affront. He spends four hours waiting at the luggage carousel. He finds that there is no dirt or graffiti in Vienna, Prague, etc.
He can't just say that he doesn't care for Paris or that he has had unpleasant experiences thre, he's got
to slam everyone and everything in it and take pot shots at an ethnic group as well. And it's the Parisians who he says are unfriendly and who stare sternly at him? Wonder why.
Mar 6th, 2001, 01:27 PM
#11
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Bonjour,
The next time someone says that he/she has had a bad experience in a Bagdad, Dasmascus, Amman or Riyadh, I will accuse him/her of the same things you are saying to me.
In my opinion there are two types of people who love Paris - 1. the uncivilized ones who no cultural/historical tradition as his/her background who need to go to Paris to get "civilized" by the arrogant French and 2. those who were put down by Parisians but cannot admit to others that they have had a bad experience because they spent their money on purpose to go to Paris.
Yes, Tour Eiffel and other Parisian places are turning into "Little Indias." Don't believe me, go and see for yourself - when is the last time you were there?
Sam
The next time someone says that he/she has had a bad experience in a Bagdad, Dasmascus, Amman or Riyadh, I will accuse him/her of the same things you are saying to me.
In my opinion there are two types of people who love Paris - 1. the uncivilized ones who no cultural/historical tradition as his/her background who need to go to Paris to get "civilized" by the arrogant French and 2. those who were put down by Parisians but cannot admit to others that they have had a bad experience because they spent their money on purpose to go to Paris.
Yes, Tour Eiffel and other Parisian places are turning into "Little Indias." Don't believe me, go and see for yourself - when is the last time you were there?
Sam
Mar 6th, 2001, 01:33 PM
#13
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Yep, troll-o-rama.
Wondering where all those posts about bad experiences in Amman, Riyadh, etc., are that "Sam" is talking about. I didn't realize all those places were in Europe. Oh--they're not? Silly me. Then why would Sam expect the folks on a travel board discussing Europe to start randomly complaining about the Middle East?
Wondering where all those posts about bad experiences in Amman, Riyadh, etc., are that "Sam" is talking about. I didn't realize all those places were in Europe. Oh--they're not? Silly me. Then why would Sam expect the folks on a travel board discussing Europe to start randomly complaining about the Middle East?
Mar 6th, 2001, 01:41 PM
#14
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I didn't realize I had just crossed over a bridge and forgot to pay the troll the appropriate toll. Hmmmm - there are also a couple of "I hate to travel alone" threads all posted within an hour - they all have similar tones - I suspect a troll there too. Must be that time of day - and I thought trolls were nocturnal.
Mar 6th, 2001, 02:16 PM
#20
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Bonjour,
Yes, I am a jerk and a troll.
But I am a jerk and a troll with a pretty young French mistress in Paris. That's is why I went there last week for the 3rd time. What/who do you have in Paris? Dog dropping underneath your shoes? Stinky Parisian cigarette smoke on your clothing?
And if you are somewhat decent looking you may get propositioned by the horde of young North African Parisians who are looking for a freebie with an American.
I am having the last laugh and with these many responses to my message. people looking for Paris travel information can't miss my message.
The next time I am smoking a Davidoff and drinking a Hennessy Cognac looking out my hotel window at the lited Tour Eiffel from my mistress' apartment room and after having a good time with my mistress Maria, I will think of you poor people who "dream of Paris for being a great city" but who has nothing/no one in Paris to claim to.
Sam
Yes, I am a jerk and a troll.
But I am a jerk and a troll with a pretty young French mistress in Paris. That's is why I went there last week for the 3rd time. What/who do you have in Paris? Dog dropping underneath your shoes? Stinky Parisian cigarette smoke on your clothing?
And if you are somewhat decent looking you may get propositioned by the horde of young North African Parisians who are looking for a freebie with an American.
I am having the last laugh and with these many responses to my message. people looking for Paris travel information can't miss my message.
The next time I am smoking a Davidoff and drinking a Hennessy Cognac looking out my hotel window at the lited Tour Eiffel from my mistress' apartment room and after having a good time with my mistress Maria, I will think of you poor people who "dream of Paris for being a great city" but who has nothing/no one in Paris to claim to.
Sam
