I just read a news article that said that Paris has, in the first 7 months of this year, surpassed 1998's full-year record of 22 million tourists. That's 3 times the population of New York City! <BR> <BR>At what point does Paris stop existing as a real city and become just a tourist playground? Or has that happened already?

Hee hee - Paris turning into a tourist playground - hee hee. Good one, Brian! <BR> <BR>That's about 100,000 tourists a day on average - in a city that hosts conventions, world congresses, etc. Don't worry; a few spindly-legged, bermuda-shorted bubbas aren't going to destroy a city that even the German army couldn't flatten. <BR> <BR>Anyway, the French are too chauvinistic to allow that to happen (God bless 'em).

Good point, Elvira. I think Paris has certainly changed over the years, but it is probably more immune than most cities to becoming simply a tourist playground. I think I remember Rick Steves making a similar comment about the residents stubbornly refusing to let this happen and how Paris has still remained Paris despite it all. I hope they remain stubborn about it.

I think 20 million of those 22 million visitors must have been there the last weekend of June!!

One of the many things I love about Paris is that it is such a "living" city-you see lots of Parisians going about their daily routines:going to the market, the bakery, etc. Most of the tourists are so awe-struck by the city's beauty that it makes it pleasant to see so many people enjoying themselves.

I have to admit that the scores of tour groups marching up to Notre Dame annoyed my friend and I, who were breakfasting in a cafe close to our hotel. Every five minutes another group of 30-50 went by. <BR> <BR>I was very annoyed by the lack of respect shown inside ND by the tourists from Asia, and their guides didn't seem to be stopping them! We are taught to respect all cultures and behave with decorum in religious buildings. I'm sure they would be annoyed if western tourists were so disrespectful in their temples. (They were shouting, laughing out loud, going into the altar and other "off limits" areas). This was a four years ago, so I hope things have improved by now.