The "City of Lights" was never my top choice of city to visit in Europe. Why? Because much had been heard & read about the city's unclean, full of scams & unsafe to hang around, and Parisians are rude & arrogant. But then, any travellers in their right mind wouldn't give Paris a miss, would they? In the end, this city which is well known for its romantic & historic cityscape, coffee, exquisite cuisines, and croissants has made it to my itinerary, and it turned out to be one hell of an unforgettable experience.
WARNING!!! Continue reading this article might ruin your romantic fantasy on Paris, or make you love the city even more. Either way, the author won't be held responsible.
Well, seeing is believing. Is it unclean? Check - pungent urine smell under the bridges by the Seine, often left by partygoers who apparently couldn't find a proper toilet nearby the night before; dog's poop on the streets, I've watched my steps carefully, but still stepped on some "landmines"!
🔺The beautiful Pont Alexandre III, one of many historic bridges
that span across Seine River
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Full of scams? Check - I've encountered almost every infamous scams in the city: The "lucky bracelet" gang in Montmartre, where the African guy grabbed my arm tight & refused to let go; the petition lady approached me outside of Palais Garnier (twice!); "where-is-the-ball" syndicate nearby Eiffel Tower, who tried to lure me into their con; pickpocket(s) on the train going to Amsterdam, didn't even noticed for a second that my backpack at the overhead rack was opened & searched by 'quick hands' passing by the aisle, with me on my seat all the time.
With upfront preparation, stubborn resistance & some luck, I managed to escape from all these thrilling moments in one piece (with my valuables intact), phew! Here are 3 rules of thumb on how to be prepared & counter such situations mentioned above:
- Go watch the French Police Department video about what precautions should be taken by tourists while staying in Paris.
- Don't take your eyes off your belongings for even a few seconds! Literally keep your valuables such as passport, credit cards, high-value banknotes close to you, put them in a pouch, strap it around your body & cover it underneath your clothes.
- Always watch over your shoulders & stay alert of your surroundings, if weird & suspicious-looking strangers approach you, just ignore them & walk away.
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| 🔺Beware of the "lucky bracelet" gang at the bottom of the stairs leading up to Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre |
🔺Ignore & walk away when the "petition ladies" approach you
outside of Palais Garnier
🔺Don't leave your belongings unattended on train
🔺Keep your valuables in travel safety pouch
🔺Our walking tour guide is giving guidelines on
pickpocket preventive measures
A historic city that more than meets the eye
Paris certainly has more to offer beyond Eiffel Tower & Louvre, every boulevard you wander, every corner you turn, there are picturesque historic landmarks & monuments, as if the entire city is like a huge outdoor museum. The following are just a few of them...
🔺Our walking tour guide is giving guidelines on
pickpocket preventive measures
🔺Fontaine Saint-Michel
🔺Equestrian statue of King Henry IV
🔺Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel
🔺Louvre Pyramid & Museum - world's largest art museum to date
🔺Notre Dame Cathedral of Paris
🔺The back of Notre Dame
🔺L'église de la Madeleine
The Roman Catholic church built in 19th century
🔺Palais Garnier
an Italian-style opera house
🔺Inside Palais Garnier
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🔺 Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile
standing majestically at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle
🔺The sparkling Eiffel Tower at night
... and the list goes on!
Bon Appetit!
Don't worry about getting hungry in Paris, because you won't. A brasserie (restaurant), cafe, boulangerie (bakery) or patisseire (pastries shop) is never far away by foot. Whether it's a classic multi-course meal in the restaurant, or a cup of cafe noisette at the coffee shop, or just a simple Nutella crepe from any stalls on the street, your stomach is always well taken care of.
Friendly Parisians... really?
Are Parisians rude, especially to tourists? No, they are friendly, helpful & welcoming people! With a simple greeting line "Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?" (Hello, do you speak English?) to open every conversation has helped me making friends & settled in as a foreigner. Don't let the rumours fool you, most local people in Paris speak fluent English, and they're more than happy to speak English with visitors who don't understand French.
It is still one of the safest city in the world
Yes, we frequently learn about the news of terrorism & crimes happening in Paris. But to me, there's no place in this world which is 100% safe, sometimes we're not even safe at home. So, don't worry about something that we couldn't foresee & let it stop us from exploring the beautiful world. What we can do is stay vigilant at all times, keep an eye on our surroundings (besides the beautiful scenery & French ladies) & we should be fine. Furthermore, armed force patrol are ever present everywhere in the city, especially at the crowded tourist spots to maintain order & security.
No matter how much you've learned about how amazing - or terrible - Paris is, seeing is believing, perhaps you should visit & experience for yourself to decide whether to love this crazy city or not. And fall in love with Paris at your own risk, you've been warned!
Oh by the way, do I love Paris? I don't know, I will go visit again and find out. (wink)
Bon Appetit!
Don't worry about getting hungry in Paris, because you won't. A brasserie (restaurant), cafe, boulangerie (bakery) or patisseire (pastries shop) is never far away by foot. Whether it's a classic multi-course meal in the restaurant, or a cup of cafe noisette at the coffee shop, or just a simple Nutella crepe from any stalls on the street, your stomach is always well taken care of.
🔺Get yourself a crepe with Nutella from any stall on the street,
you can hardly go wrong
🔺The delightful Berthillon ice-cream
🔺Take a walk down Rue de la Huchette (the Latin Quarter)
in search of some good food
🔺French bakery is second to none
🔺Macarons, famous French pastry which no need
further introduction
Are Parisians rude, especially to tourists? No, they are friendly, helpful & welcoming people! With a simple greeting line "Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?" (Hello, do you speak English?) to open every conversation has helped me making friends & settled in as a foreigner. Don't let the rumours fool you, most local people in Paris speak fluent English, and they're more than happy to speak English with visitors who don't understand French.
It is still one of the safest city in the world
Yes, we frequently learn about the news of terrorism & crimes happening in Paris. But to me, there's no place in this world which is 100% safe, sometimes we're not even safe at home. So, don't worry about something that we couldn't foresee & let it stop us from exploring the beautiful world. What we can do is stay vigilant at all times, keep an eye on our surroundings (besides the beautiful scenery & French ladies) & we should be fine. Furthermore, armed force patrol are ever present everywhere in the city, especially at the crowded tourist spots to maintain order & security.
No matter how much you've learned about how amazing - or terrible - Paris is, seeing is believing, perhaps you should visit & experience for yourself to decide whether to love this crazy city or not. And fall in love with Paris at your own risk, you've been warned!
Oh by the way, do I love Paris? I don't know, I will go visit again and find out. (wink)
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