Squiggy

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

ephilcox

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

Robespierre

How crass.

Squiggy

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

Squiggy

Gekko

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??)

PalQ

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!

AnthonyGA

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).

amyb

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!

Therese

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.

Squiggy

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.

jody

&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!

RonZ

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.

Therese

&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.

Intrepid1

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

AnthonyGA

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.

Scarlett

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!

WillTravel

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.

gard

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

Kate_W

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.

Squiggy

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