To have found certain parts of Paris edgy

[Sheeled]

I stayed in Belleville, which was ok. Walked ina respectable area today, there was a guy possibly in his 30s, clearly.not right mentally verbally harassing and jostling people asking for money. Didn't see much police presence anywhere.

There were big groups of men, many of whom were shouting at each other and again many looked quite unwell, around the main train stations.

Large areas around the stations smelled I mean really smelled of urine.

A lot of people seemed really unhappy and afraid.

Don't know if this has always been the case or are we simply talking about some areas. I dont think Ill be visiting again in a hurry.

It’s pretty much identical, admittedly with fewer accessible stations.

To me it feels very intimidating. And the constant pickpocket warnings. It feels like the NYC Subway.

I voted unbu as sadly Paris like so many cities in the world no longer feel as safe - whether it’s due to economic difficulties, reduce support for mental health, homelessness lack of policing and general lack of pride or care of people’s environments who knows. It’s sad to see especially as I feel my children will not enjoy the confidence and freedom I felt when I was young ( loads of us did the inter railing experience in college but I wouldn’t feel comfortable letting my daughter go at the same age I did)

Loved your post, @pinck

I also presumed the OP meant “dodgy” rather than “edgy” because edgy is cool - though frankly I do think Paris is cool! Paris has always been a bit sketchy under a beautiful facade.

The pickpocketing is no worse now than it ever was: my mum was fighting with a woman trying to pickpocket from her in 1978 when we were there (I was 9!), and DH and I were mugged there in 1992.

We still visit. It’s an amazing place. And you really can’t see all there is to see in 4 days, as a PP claims.

I don't think Paris has got any worse TBH. I think more people go to Paris now and find, as it ever was, the Paris of theie imaginations does not match the reality.

I think peope visit London and New York kond of expecting them to be busy and a bit grimey but the social.media image of Paris is so far removed from the actual reality of a working world city it is a it of a shock to some.

Also it has tons and tons of tourists, sadly that attracts people on the make.

When people say they were "mugged" in Paris do you mean an actual violent theft or threat of violence. Or do you just mean snatch and grab and/or pickpocketing?

They tried to mug DH and I also in the 90s. But we fought them off. I won't mention what their background is, but you get what I'm hinting at.

I am here right now. I live in Central London, so I know city life. I did find it noticeable last night walking along Rue du Magenta that there were hundreds of African men just hanging out in large groups chatting. I didn't feel threatened, but it was striking to see so many who I assume have nowhere else to go, can't afford or are unwelcome in bars, live in small rooms, just want contact with others who experience same. It was noisy, lively, the occasional drama. It was a bit of a shock and I could imagine, if I wasn't an old battle-axe, feeling intimidated. Not a single woman among them.

Your ‘hints’ are less like hints and more like ‘particularly obvious racism’.

@Fnssc yes we all know what you are dog whistleing about.

Would you feel safe in Westminster?
I think most people would probably says yes but actually, Westminster is the most dangerous borough in London due to the high number of visitors.
Crime stats alone don't always give you the whole picture.

They did try to mug us though.

I am a die hard, life long Londoner so I accept that my experiences and opinions might be skewed! I don’t think our mainline stations are like the hell hole of the Gare du Nord described here and I don’t think the areas around the stations are crime ridden grot holes. I’m thinking Kings X/StP, Liverpool Street (being upgraded), even Euston doesn’t feel unsafe just ugly and impractical. I was swarmed by urchins once near the Termini station in Rome. We fought them off with the help of a passing local.

Paris is the most horrible filthy city I've ever visited and I've been fortunate to travel a lot. I would never return

@Davros there was apparently plans to redevelop Gare du Nord and clean up the surrounding area (a bit like the clean up that happened around Kings X - St Pancras) but it was cancelled.

What were you expecting? Emily in Paris tweeness? Any large city has its rough areas that are best to be avoided and most large stations tend to be somewhat sketchy at the best of times.

Only time Gare Du Nord was safe was near and during Olympics due to lots of security

My French friend from Calais who lives in London rarely goes to Paris. Must ask why. She had a flatmate called Eloise who she said was a typical Parisian snob. She’s now in Dubai. We had foreign students once and a very rich boy Guillame lived in Opera. He may still live there but he’s married now. Couldn’t cook and used to eat tubs of chocolate ice cream and go out drinking until he spent all his money in London 🤣. His dad was sadly killed in a motor accident but family owned chain of resorts in campagne (countryside).

On another city my nana used to have au pairs from France (wealthy girls who barely did au pair tasks no cleaning or anything 🤣) who took my teenage mum back to Montpelier for Les vacs. I mentioned to mum something about Marseilles once and she said it was a rough dirty unsafe sailors town and not to go there! That was all! Think her French friends told her this or she went once and found out for herself. It’s probably perfectly nice but I’ve never been!

This was from londres.

And after the bombings terror attack I think. Some of Paris seemed very quiet and our travel plans including American friends were already booked. They were scared to go but it was fine.

Yep. That’s Paris. It’s a big city.

I have lived in Paris and visited about a good 10/15 times. I love it!

I’ve been there about 15 times with family and friends, been all over. Hate me now but I actually find it a bit boring. But I also find some parts of London boring and way too touristy now. Some Parisian parts I like some I don’t. Like I said my British aunt lives there has done for past 10 or so years. One of her friends makes and sells guitars there. She’s an ex model so in with that scene (music and so on). My DB and his wife love it there and stay in less well known suburbs (don’t ask me where I just see photos on fb).

this is what happened to the Japanese student who stayed with us, I think, quite common:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_syndrome

I like a neighbourhood where it feels like there's life and you could pop out and get a pint of milk/a nice coffee etc. Several of my corner shops are cornerstones of our community; the staff know their regulars and did home deliveries in Covid, look out for people etc.
Anyway, those parts of London just feel empty and soulless to me. I don't know how else to say it. I'm glad you had a different experience, but that's not mine.

That reads like a joke! Can’t believe it’s real!