Paris is the capital of romance :) Everyone knows that. Everyone's seen the pictures of the amazing Parisian architecture. It truly is amazing and I like that it has been kind of conserved in a time bubble - the old typical Parisian house styles :)
Doesn't it look like a perfect walk? If you're lucky it will be. If you're not so lucky then a minute after taking this picture you'll run away from the spot trying to suppress vomit because it absolutely stinks of urine there :( (I do not a have a strong stomach at all). That's the side of Paris that you don't usually hear about but it is visible (smellable in this case) wayyyy too often in my opinion :( Especially on the banks of the river and metro stations. I once saw a woman let her child (5-6y?) pee in the gutter next to the stairs to the metro entrance. Eeew! Yuck! I understand when a child has to go he has to go but come on!
By the smell, it even seems that it is the "normal" thing to do, under a bridge, behind the corner etc. And not just one person does it (or the homeless) because the stench is often literally unbearable! Luckily the streets are free of it :) So you can indeed enjoy a walk through Paris :)
On the streets though there are other threats - hustlers, scammers, pickpockets. -.- It may seem like ,especially if you read the tripadvisor forum, that everyone's out to get your money. A while ago I saw a post there asking for advice how to be safe. And one answer was to hide all the credit cards, cash, documents in a bag that goes discreelty under your shirt, or neckpurse or whatever thingies are invented for this. Best if not to take anything with you at all, photocopy your passport etc etc etc. A copy of an actual comment:
If you are nervous about losing your passport on the way to your hotel, then put in the safest place you can before you leave the airport...in your bra, down your pants, in a money belt...etc.
Bring a camera that if you lose it or it is stolen, you won't feel like killing yourself. Only carry cash you need for the day and 1 credit card. Leave the rest of your cash and spare credit cards at the hotel. A cell phone is a hard one...if you loose your expensive phone that will suck, but you'll live. I think most people can do without carrying a tablet.
If you really are anxious then by all means stick to taking taxis and avoid public transport and crowds. If you stay in the tourist areas, you can get to most places for 10 - 15 euros.
Ummm.... just chill for a second eh? :D Putting your passport in your bra? Isn't that a bit too much??? Bring the camera you use normally - don't go buying some crappy camera that'll take crappy pictures because it might get stolen. Just keep an eye on it always and don't leave it lying anywhere on its own (common sense?). Same with your wallet - no need to hide it in your buttcrack to avoid it being stolen. Just don't make it ridicoulously easy to spot and steal. I always carry everything in a clutch cross body bag that doesn't even have a zipper and yet I still have everything... Miracle. I do restrain from keeping it on my back where I can't see or feel when someones tampering with it. But that's it... If you are Richie Rich by all means stick to taxis - but be aware they might be dodgy as well! Best to just stay in your hotel for the entire trip and just look at the pictures on the internet...
The (sad) reality is that indeed there are pickpockets in Paris. Not denying it. But no need to crazy over it, just be aware of your surroundings and don't flash cash or phones around every 5 seconds and you should be fine... You don't see any Parisians walking around daily with their moneybelts, using only taxis etc. They are actually reading books (on public transport) and not watching their belongins like a hawk... So chill, you'll enjoy the trip much more :)
Has anyone ever seen how those moneybelts are even used? Hilarious me thinks. Everytime you have to pay for something you show your hairy stomach (I've seen men doing it) to everyone and take forever to pay for something because obviously you can't leave the register before putting the change you were given back to the moneybelt and then hiding it under your shirt, tucking the shirt back into you pants etc. Not attractive at all.
I have mentioned the petition girls and the Monty players in the Eiffel Tower post (I hope) so I'll just say when you see them just ignore them and then you can be paranoid and clutch all your belongins in your hands because they are professionals and usually just distract you with their petition while their accomplice steals you blind (seen it happen myself - luckily they managed to get the phone back from the girls).
When you've succesfully dodged all the scammers and yelled NON! to everyone that even glances a look in your direction (hey! they were only trying to help you find what you're looking for, no need to be rude!) you'll find yourself in the endless queue to go to the Louvre/Versailles/Eiffel Tower/Catacombs etc etc. :) Should've brought a book like all the other Parisians.
Then the day is finally over and you can return to your tiny overly priced appartment that you basically sold your kidney to afford :( Look on the bright side though, at least you are in Paris and not living in the Banlieue (ew, that's like 5 minutes further with the metro, how can people live there?), somehow you've managed the impossible and gotten yourself an appartment (okay it's actually a studio but who cares?), never mind the fact that the inside isn't as nice as the outside :( And you have to take your luggage up to the fourth floor by a narrow spiral staircase. Fun! :) And then you find out you can hear absolutely everything your next door neighbor does and says :) Totally worth it though :) Time to chillax, oh wait... where could I get cheap furniture????
Other than that I think Paris is absolutely wonderful and it holds a special place in my heart and I wish I could've lived in Paris (not 5 mins from it) this summer and that I would not have to leave so soon.
Ttyl ;)
Jazzz...
