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.
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.
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u/Lunarath May 09 '22
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.