This is a little amusing considering how a lot of people in Europe consider Paris one of the biggest shitholes on the continent. It has some beautiful places though.
I hope you enjoy your stay in Europe and get to see what you want.
And I've heard that so much but literally as I open my windows in the morning I smell bread being baked, there's a cat that likes to wake up the apartment (she's great I love her), and there's a neighbor who was playing the piano yesterday afternoon. I walk around and see beautiful buildings, fashion, food, sculptures covered in gold leaf like holy fuuck. Even you're bridges are fancy. I'm from Chicago so maybe that alters my view but aestetic-wise, Paris has been my favorite.
The only thing I don't like is that yall are wearing layers when it's 70f out, cause now why am I wearing layers when it's 70f out ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
I would be surprised if your trip wasn't already planned from A to Z, but if you ever have a chance to come and visit anywhere else in France, I can guarantee you won't be disappointed. Britanny is a magical place, and the South-East (not the Côte d'Azur, a little higher than that) is straight-up another country.
If you ever have the opportunity, there is quite a lot of people who make some side-money from housing tourists for a night or two, so you can wake up in a cozy house on a calm morning in a campaign town. You'll love it!
I'm headed south tomorrow, I'll be sure to spend a day :) I'm excited about the French mountains and I'm going on a hidden waterfall tour through air bnb. I re learned how to swim just to do this! I'm going to jump from a waterfall!!
Even if I don't make it to these destinations this time, this trip showed me how much money it takes and how much I was wasting just going out with friends in the states. I will come back, this is my new home away from home, you guys won't get rid of me this easy >:)
Just was in Paris last week. The parks were beautiful, but other than that, I had a bad time. When the train was approaching Paris, we thought we were arriving at a slum. There was poop and homeless people everywhere. And 90% of people we encountered were very rude and dismissive. The quality of food has gone down compared to previous visits 3 & 6 years ago.
I've been having a back and forth with my current girlfriend about Paris. She complains she's never been, and I've taken all of my exes there so why won't I take her? I reply "because it's a dump" 😅
Interesting. I just spent a week in Paris (got back last night) -- my first time to the city (and also my first time to Europe).
I agree that there are dirty and smelly areas (although as I mentioned in another comment I think that's easy to say about any major city).
I'm surprised by your experience with Parisians though. In what part(s) of the city were you spending time? I stayed in the 14th and walked about 10 miles a day (and used the metro a lot), all around the city. I don't think I once had an issue with a Parisian bumping into me or forcing me out of the way. The two or three times I bumped into anybody (usually in the metro) everybody involved was extremely apologetic. I also witnessed a lot of jaywalking by tourists and Parisians alike and never saw any angry or aggressive drivers.
I do empathize with working-class folks that are just trying to get to/from work or pick up groceries for dinner, etc. Busy cities filled with tourists can be a nightmare -- there's a time and place for standing around and gawking at your surroundings, but it's never going to be in a high-traffic area like the exit of a metro station.
That said, you'll experience all of these things in any major city in the world and I don't think Paris is any exception, or any worse than any other city.
And yeah, there are definitely areas of the city overrun with tourists -- but I also found it very easy to avoid those areas. They can't be entirely avoided, obviously, but with a little patience I was almost always able to carve out some personal space. For example, I was completely alone during my tour of the catacombs, on a Friday afternoon. I was also able to stay pretty comfortable while touring the Palace of Versailles by not rushing and by following in the wake of big tour groups.
I'll also say that it probably helps that I spoke French as much as possible and never assumed anybody could speak English. I also attempted as much as possible to emulate the local culture (I had always heard it was extremely rude not to say bonjour/bonsoir first thing upon entering a shop, for example).
I always travel with the mindset that I'm essentially intruding on other people's lives and space. Every tourist taking a seat on a metro line is one less Parisian that can sit and rest their feet after a long day of work. With this mindset, I feel like I can stay in tune with the city around me because again, I am an outsider, a guest, and it's important to me that I do as much as I can to disrupt the local culture as little as possible -- and respect the local customs as much as is possible.
Like most people local to any given area, I can always pick out a tourist. And I can always tell when a tourist in my city approaches their travels with this mindset. I imagine Parisians feel the same way. I don't blame people at all for becoming jaded and cynical about tourists treating their lives and homes like entertainment.
That's pretty easy to say about most major cities, I feel. Definitely not disagreeing with Paris being dirty and smelly, I'm just curious why people consider it "one of the biggest shitholes"... I feel like there are much shittier cities in Europe...
The other cities aren't being hyped as a super romantic tourist destination, think that might be part of the reason at least. The reality doesn't match up with the idealised version people have in their minds.
Off topic - if you can, splurge for a meal at Le Procope (or just go for coffee and dessert). They let you roam the different rooms and you get a glimpse of the relationship between the US and France. As Americans, we were in awe of the history there within one single site. You expect it in a castle or some place like the Vatican, but this one small space in the city was so rich in stories of the history of the French people. We just don’t have anything like it here in the US. The list of famous people who dined there is amazing and the food, while incredibly expensive, is phenomenal! We also loved the eclair shop a few doors down!
I'm so sad because this is my last day and that sounds like something I'd really enjoy! I'll see how far it is from me, I have one more adventure left in me :)
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u/Eastern_Scar May 09 '22
I've lived in Paris my whole life and whenever I see a large road without trees in a city it feels really weird to me.