Paris - a few random observations…
Discussion
1. Still very much one of THE greatest cities to visit for a few days, especially when the weather is helpful.
2.1 Electric vehicles (cars, mopeds, bicycles, trottinette) are very fast and almost silent. This has given them a new “whispering death” tactical advantage in trying to kill you, which they are every time you cross a road or stray near to a kerb. The appearance of the green man at crossings improves your odds, but only marginally.
2.2 The life expectancy of moped riders must be measured in hours. I saw four ambulance-requiring incidents in three days, and heard several other sickening crunches. The death-toll must be high, I’m amazed it is tolerable.
2.3. Even ultra-aggressive drivers get owned by those 100% indifferent to vehicular damage and/or personal risk. We took an Uber after dinner one evening with a driver who was clearly savage, angry and looking for trouble. He was turned over at least three times in fifteen minutes by other drivers with higher risk tolerances. I am no shrinking violet (lived in London for fifteen years) but this was simply another level.
3.1 Cafe tables are stupidly small (I understand the commercial imperatives) with not enough room for your food. They are also without exception unstable and highly polished. Many of your meals will end up in your lap or on the floor. Especially if you have to share such a table with a hungry teenager hell-bent on hacking at his hache.
3.2 Cafe food is outstandingly good. How/why then is there a McDonald’s every 200m? I was amazed.
4. Love Island / insta-types are conspicuous by their absence relative to the UK. Great!
2.1 Electric vehicles (cars, mopeds, bicycles, trottinette) are very fast and almost silent. This has given them a new “whispering death” tactical advantage in trying to kill you, which they are every time you cross a road or stray near to a kerb. The appearance of the green man at crossings improves your odds, but only marginally.
2.2 The life expectancy of moped riders must be measured in hours. I saw four ambulance-requiring incidents in three days, and heard several other sickening crunches. The death-toll must be high, I’m amazed it is tolerable.
2.3. Even ultra-aggressive drivers get owned by those 100% indifferent to vehicular damage and/or personal risk. We took an Uber after dinner one evening with a driver who was clearly savage, angry and looking for trouble. He was turned over at least three times in fifteen minutes by other drivers with higher risk tolerances. I am no shrinking violet (lived in London for fifteen years) but this was simply another level.
3.1 Cafe tables are stupidly small (I understand the commercial imperatives) with not enough room for your food. They are also without exception unstable and highly polished. Many of your meals will end up in your lap or on the floor. Especially if you have to share such a table with a hungry teenager hell-bent on hacking at his hache.
3.2 Cafe food is outstandingly good. How/why then is there a McDonald’s every 200m? I was amazed.
4. Love Island / insta-types are conspicuous by their absence relative to the UK. Great!
I worked there 3 to 5 days a month for about 5 years . 2016 to 2021. I think it's changed massively in that short time. Not for the better. More edgy, expensive,lower quality , lots more visible crime .
Some areas became unsafe . Clearly lots of migrants and homeless. Not suggesting they were the cause of all the decline.
Huge amount of the Parisians were openly racist and rude and unpleasant to them .
I don't like it as you can tell.
I always stayed in the centre of town and used to love walking about in the evenings , especially in the summer . It got pretty dodgy to do so in the end , had more than a few unpleasant experiences.
I travelled each day east to work in the financial district .
Oh and that cafe great food and wine experience just declined year on year . Notably .
Some areas became unsafe . Clearly lots of migrants and homeless. Not suggesting they were the cause of all the decline.
Huge amount of the Parisians were openly racist and rude and unpleasant to them .
I don't like it as you can tell.
I always stayed in the centre of town and used to love walking about in the evenings , especially in the summer . It got pretty dodgy to do so in the end , had more than a few unpleasant experiences.
I travelled each day east to work in the financial district .
Oh and that cafe great food and wine experience just declined year on year . Notably .
Edited by cliffords on Thursday 16th February 17:24
Evanivitch said:
shakotan said:
5. Its a s
thole.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndromethole.Had to edit it to say having written that I then immediately went and made myself one .
Edited by cliffords on Thursday 16th February 17:31
just back from a long weekend with my family.
- expect to get rinsed for €€€€ every time you sit down for food. My own fault, 5 kids.
- Sacre Couer of a dark evening is a great view/atmosphere over town.
- wear the crappiest oldest trainers you have. One insta type teenager with us insisted on DMs...bleeding feet by day two.
- Versaille & Louvre are awesome. dont feel the need to do them entirely. Save for a second visit.
- French B*stards is a great boulangerie
- Some apartment dwellers arent impressed when you rock up to your ABNB above them with 8 excited kids.
- download apps - Louvre & Versaille apps include audio guide and save you fannying about with paper and buying the wee doodangles at the places.
- taxi drivers are as good as uber from the airport. Been 3 times on business in 22 and last week for pleasure and the taxi drivers charges were withing a couple of Euro of what Uber was quoting.
- Still have Uber on your phone for when have your group start whining at the end of the night on the Eiffel tower as they cant be arsed using the Metro or walking
- Metro is pretty good, clean, fast but feels like 1985 having to buy little crappy card tickets
- expect to get rinsed for €€€€ every time you sit down for food. My own fault, 5 kids.
- Sacre Couer of a dark evening is a great view/atmosphere over town.
- wear the crappiest oldest trainers you have. One insta type teenager with us insisted on DMs...bleeding feet by day two.
- Versaille & Louvre are awesome. dont feel the need to do them entirely. Save for a second visit.
- French B*stards is a great boulangerie
- Some apartment dwellers arent impressed when you rock up to your ABNB above them with 8 excited kids.
- download apps - Louvre & Versaille apps include audio guide and save you fannying about with paper and buying the wee doodangles at the places.
- taxi drivers are as good as uber from the airport. Been 3 times on business in 22 and last week for pleasure and the taxi drivers charges were withing a couple of Euro of what Uber was quoting.
- Still have Uber on your phone for when have your group start whining at the end of the night on the Eiffel tower as they cant be arsed using the Metro or walking
- Metro is pretty good, clean, fast but feels like 1985 having to buy little crappy card tickets
Biggest sthole in Northern Europe?
We used to stay in Republique area used to be a cracking afternoon/evening/early morning.
Yes McDo is probably the largest employer in Paris.
This one op
4. Love Island / insta-types are conspicuous by their absence relative to the UK. Great!
Na this was definitely invented there perhaps they have evolved.
thole in Northern Europe?We used to stay in Republique area used to be a cracking afternoon/evening/early morning.
Yes McDo is probably the largest employer in Paris.
This one op
4. Love Island / insta-types are conspicuous by their absence relative to the UK. Great!
Na this was definitely invented there perhaps they have evolved.
Deesee said:
cavey76 said:
just back from a long weekend with my family.
- Metro is pretty good, clean, fast but feels like 1985 having to buy little crappy card tickets
It’s to small to get the Metro, it’s easier to walk the centre.- Metro is pretty good, clean, fast but feels like 1985 having to buy little crappy card tickets
Day 1 We were staying in 9th Arrodisement - Louvre - Place de la Concorde - Champs Elsyee/Arc Du Triomphe -(via Moulin Rouge for comedy outside pics) - Sacre Couer - back to apartment = 12.5 miles. Agreed it was a better experience as a walk
Day 2 Metro on Haussman got us to the overground station for Versailles in 20 mins. Wouuld have been a killer to walk to the train station.
fiatpower said:
Deesee said:
4. Love Island / insta-types are conspicuous by their absence relative to the UK. Great!
Na this was definitely invented there perhaps they have evolved.
Yeah he wasn’t looking very hard; they’re everywhere!Na this was definitely invented there perhaps they have evolved.
Me to Albanian boss man on the sun beds .Shove the pretty girls out the way.. my kids want that sunbed to play..
& keep them out my sight..
Evanivitch said:
shakotan said:
5. Its a sthole.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndromethole.If you're going, don't go when you've barely slept for 5 days on a Monday when lots of places are closed.
Also try to avoid it during rail strikes when there's no left luggage facility. You just end up dragging a case to the Eiffel Tower, looking at it for 30 seconds then spending the rest of the afternoon in a massively overpriced bar.
I went about 15 years ago and absolutely hated it.
Everyone was very rude
I felt unwelcome in any restaurant or cafe
Aggression everywhere
It was incredibly dirty
Lots of street drinkers - not being prudish but they were everywhere
Absolutely no desire to return (mainly as there are so many better options I think)
Everyone was very rude
I felt unwelcome in any restaurant or cafe
Aggression everywhere
It was incredibly dirty
Lots of street drinkers - not being prudish but they were everywhere
Absolutely no desire to return (mainly as there are so many better options I think)
Lived there for almost two years and loved going into the centre. It was and still is ridiculously expensive but then are all major cities. There are still decent places to eat and drink if you go a few streets away from the tourist attractions. Definitely got less safe at night though but if you use common sense then you'll be ok. I only get to visit about twice a year now and agree about the Metro tickets, hilarious.
I lived there for several years almost 30 years ago and in his turn my son has just spent three years living there as a student so I'm still a regular visitor. The family home is about two hours away by train so even though I'm now in Riyadh when I get back we sometimes go for the day. My experience is that it's like most other big cities, there are good places and bad places. It helps to know a bit of the language, but it isn't essential. The locals generally know the best and worst places to eat and stay. There are some areas best avoided but some real gems too.
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