Paris Sidewalks and Dogs
 

I will be going to Paris for the first time with my boyfriend on July 28th (he's been there several times). I mentioned to him that I will be bringing only one pair of sexy stiletto sandals to wear for our upscale restaurant nights. He said, I hope you don't plan on bringing your Manolo Blahnik's, because unless it's changed since I was last there (about 5 years ago?), you better look down while walking because you will be dodging dog droppings everywhere!

So, fodorites, is this true?!!!

Thanks!

Squiggy

We are in Paris right now and apparently they have a new by-law that requires people to clean up after their dogs. We have hardly seen any little bombs anywhere, so I would say you are safe in your sexy little stillettos. Elaine

How crass.

Thank you, Elaine!! Enjoy your time in Paris! I can hardly wait to get there!!

Squiggy

Based on my recent experiences in the 5th &amp; 6th, you have <i>nothing</i> to worry about. I too have heard that it's a &quot;problem,&quot; but perhaps in the less touristy areas?

(As an aside, not having the basic decency to clean up after one's pet should be a capital offense -- where's that guillotine??)

A few years ago there was a statistic such as you'd step in doggie doo, if not looking down, about every few hundred steps in Paris...but the city seems to have tackled this messy problem. Recently i've noticed much cleaner streets and the fleet of caninenettes (sp?) - sidewalk washing machines constantly in motion.
And there are also Vespachiens in place for dogs to do their dirty work - this is a play on the word Vespasienne (sp?) - the good ole Turkish Toilet - a whole in a ceramic basin - sans toilet or toilet seat of course that Roman Emperor Vespasian supposedly introduced to France.
So now the trattoirs of Paris seem ony stained by innumerable dark rivulets of dried up urine ubiquitously deposited my male humans, especially clochards, who urinate on sidewalks at will - on my last trip to Paris in December a clochard (street bum or wino) was openly relieving himself right on a busy sidewalk by the Gare du Nord - why this disgusting habit is allowed to continue beats me!

It's not a problem, although it's always a good idea to look where you are walking (even though the sidewalks may be clean, they may not always be smooth and even, and cobblestones are common in Paris).

I was last in Paris in 2000 and had bad luck a couple times. But last week I was there and never even saw it once, let alone step in it. So whatever measures the city has taken that were mentioned here, definitely seem to have worked!

It's way, way better than it used to be when it comes to dog droppings, but you should still pay careful attention when walking outside in high heels in Paris (just as you would in any large city), as there are all sorts of obstacles like cobblestones and gratings over subways and doors to cellars under the sidewalk.

There are other reasons to not wear open-toed sandals during the day in any city as well: crowded streets, air pollution that's deposited everywhere, particularly the street. Paris does a good job of keeping things tidy considering how densely populated it is, but it's still dirty.

For evening no problem, though consider a cab rather than the Metro.

Yes, Theresa, I only plan on wearing them in the evening (and not every time we go to dinner) and DEFINITELY take a cab, LOL, as I've heard it is not a good idea walking in heels in Paris.

Thanks.

&quot;it is not a good idea walking in heels in Paris&quot;

don't tell that to the Parisian women..they do it all the time!

One cab note:

When you get inb a cab at a taxi stand, the meter will start at 2 euros. However, when a cab is called for, the driver will start the meter when he heads in your direction.

&quot;don't tell that to the Parisian women..they do it all the time!&quot;

Not if they're touring, or at least not most of them.

I wear heels a lot, and certainly wear them in Paris (and everywhere else) if I'm working or going out at night, but for hard core tourist activities that require lengthy walking and/or standing, most women, French and Italian included, choose sturdier footwear.

Your boyfriend actually knows the name (brand) of your shoes? Very interesting.

My impression is that Parisians don't wear high heels as often as Americans, although they usually wear some sort of heel. It has been a while since I last visited a U.S. street, though, and fashions may have changed. In any case, the locals are much more familiar with the dangers of uneven terrain and are used to being attentive.

In all the times I have been to Paris and all those walks, I have never stepped in dog droppings.
I am usually always looking anywhere but down , so I am either very lucky or the streets are much cleaner than the days when Guide Books said that &quot; 650 people every year go to the hospital from accidents caused by stepping/slipping in dog droppings.&quot;
Ugh ((&amp;))
I also wear high heels when we go out at night to a nice restaurant or the Opera.
Wear those Manolos! :)

When we were in Paris for a week a couple years ago, I saw dog droppings a few times. My son saw them a lot more. But he did lots and lots of walking in outlying arrondisements, in residential areas, and I spent much more time confined to touristy areas. So some areas are definitely worse than others.

Hi

Funny you should mention this...when my wife and I went to Paris a few years back we also noticed that there was lots of dog shit around on the pavements. When we went back this April we were wondering if it had improved...but I still think it is the same..there are lots of dog shit around I'm afriad...but it is not a big problem...just watch your step :-) Have a great trip to Paris...it is an amazing city.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

The by-law has been around for a while, and I don't think it's making a big difference. It's just that concierges and the city workers are keeping some areas much cleaner than others. You won't have a lot of trouble in the touristy parts of the 5th, 6th, 1st, 2nd, 8th and 9th (there are probably fewer dogs there, too), but you will have problems in more residential areas. My neighbourhood, the 16th, is a nightmare. I think that people here think they're too well-off to be shovelling up their dog's messes.

Thanks, everyone, for the responses and info.

RonZ, thanks for the tip about cabs.

Intrepid1, yes, as he's been hit in the head with a falling box or two when trying to look for something in the closet.

Gard, thanks for the link to your pictures, they are wonderful. I am getting really excited about this trip!!

WillTravel and KateW, we're staying in the 7th (at the Relaise Bosquet). Isn't that more a residential area? Yikes!!

I guess it's true that it depends on what neighborhood you're in, much like NYC. My 10 y-o son noticed lots and I mean lots, of droppings around the area of Yankee stadium in the Bronx, where he found it hilarious trying to guess the breed of the dogs by the size of the droppings they left. Never really see anything in the City, nor in the areas of Brooklyn I frequent.

Squiggy

This reminds me of a joke I read along the following lines:

If aliens came down to earth and observed people attacked to ropes, walking behind dogs and scooping up their excrement, who would the aliens think was in charge on Earth?

I just have to laugh at this thread...when I was on this board a lot researching a trip to Paris in 2004, it seems like there was a dog poop on the sidewalk thread every other day!

Just got back from Paris on Monday (May 15) and did not notice or step in any dog poop anywhere in Paris. Did notice and just missed horse poopy though and then saw police on horses a short time later. I think they were patroling the streets to make sure that there wasn't any dog poop being left behind.

I too, find it interesting and strange that your boyfriend knows the name of your shoes.

Though I can understand your desire to want sexy shoes in Paris, I do have to say that maybe bringing Manolos along is not the best idea regardless... expensive and prized items have a way of going missing during travels. I realize this isn't the point of the thread, but as a &quot;shoe-a-phile,&quot; it puts a bit of fear in my heart to think of anything happening to them, dog droppings or otherwise!

If nothing else, please pack them in your carryon :)

&quot;I too, find it interesting and strange that your boyfriend knows the name of your shoes.&quot;

If you paid a ridiculous amount of money for a pair of shoes (it's the only weakness I have) you can bet he'd want an explanation of why (LOL!!).

Dog poo is more of a thing of the past, except the further south you go (the streets of Monaco are virtually unwalkable!). As for Italy, I was comfortable in sandals in Florence for about 30 seconds. After dodging dog nuggets while going to a corner bar, I turned back to change into runners.

nospam, If you think dog poo on the streets of Paris is a thing of the past, I'd like you stop by my office this afternoon and have a look at all the cr** that people scrape off their shoes onto the treads of the stairs at the entrance to the building - every morning and every afternoon after lunch. The cleaners clean it up every day, and there's more the next day.

By the way, Squiggy, if you are walking in a less than pristine environment, not only do you have to watch our for where you step, you also have to watch out for where your boyfriend steps - because whatever he steps in is going to follow you around ...

Sqiggy,I laughed at your comment guessing what breed by the dog's turds. Here in Boston, after the snow melts, I guess whose dog left that last iimpression!
on another note, how come Manolos don't get the slack that follows Herm&eacute;s scarves?

&quot;By the way, Squiggy, if you are walking in a less than pristine environment, not only do you have to watch our for where you step, you also have to watch out for where your boyfriend steps - because whatever he steps in is going to follow you around ...&quot;

That was life with my ex-husband...Don't have to worry about boyfriend...LOL!

I'd LOVE to stop by your office! Could you front me the $$$ to visit :).
Perhaps the reason I didn't see much is that I was there in &quot;winter&quot; (i.e. February).