Overall

I recently took a tour of France and stayed in Paris for a few days. I liked Paris, but I feel it's a bit overrated. Climbing to the top of Notre Dame, taking a boat ride on the Seine and seeing the Louvre were the highlights of my trip. I did Paris "on the cheap" - budget hotel near the Opera, eating street food and sandwiches, walking everywhere - and had a decent experience. Unlike most, I found the people of Paris to be kind but in a hurry - just like in many major cities. Just give the store keepers a "bonjour" and they will be civil. Unfortunately, I did find some downsides to the city. The area where I stayed - right behind the Galleries Lafayette - was absolutely deserted at night. I thought the Metro was dirty and unsafe - and I work in New York City! My boyfriend was robbed by some children and lost some cash even though we recovered the actual wallet. We were constantly harassed for money on the streets by the poor. My opinion is if you want to see France, go to the countryside, Provence, Strasbourg, Lyon, etc. instead.

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5 June 2005 | A Yahoo! User

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