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Post by sistereurope on Jun 26, 2007 14:03:57 GMT -5
I was googling SOMETHING about Paris and got sidetracked (I can't even remember what it was now)...anyway, I came across this article in About.com. Now, I KNOW that everything about Paris isn't all butterflies and roses and I am as cynical and realistic as the next person (meaning I am not a Pollyanna by any means)...but I really have to say that I found this article to be WAY over the top! What do you think??! gofrance.about.com/cs/culture/a/badside.htmI particularly like how the author says (And I quote): "Don't let this list of bad stuff put you off from visiting. After all, it's all really just a French thing."
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Post by iank9 on Jun 26, 2007 14:32:16 GMT -5
Hi sistereurope, Would it be appropriate to say yes, I think that is way over the top, or would I be putting my foot in it? ;D It reminds me of the chapter in Stephen Clarke's book "A Year in the Merde" re doggy doo! Following the link however there are several "interesting articles" on Paris and France in general; - Thanks
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Post by Happygoin on Jun 26, 2007 14:35:23 GMT -5
SE, I think that article has to be old. The pod toilets are free and have been for several (at least!) years. In the article, it alludes to a charge.
But the dog-doo and the smelly Paris thing are getting old. I've been in that city at least ten times now and have never noticed either. I can't be THAT lucky!
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Post by sistereurope on Jun 26, 2007 14:42:21 GMT -5
I've only been to Paris twice, but I only "encountered" the infamous piles of dog poo one time on one street in Montmarte...and we were all laughing at each other dodging our way up the street...
I just found that paragraph about the smelly French and their BO rather offensive, and not in the way she meant it!! Poor thing has to live there, too! I'd GLADLY trade places with her and relieve her of her misery! ;D
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 26, 2007 15:21:22 GMT -5
Hey, anyone who doesn't like (or approve of) Paris the way it is has my personal permission to just stay away!
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Post by parisfan2 (was 'paris-fantic') on Jun 27, 2007 1:53:19 GMT -5
Where does this myth about Paris being strewn with dog excrement come from? In all our visits we have seen it very rarely and as for smelling of it, I do wonder where these people go! If they think Paris is bad they should watch out when they visit the UK!
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Post by andi on Jun 27, 2007 3:56:52 GMT -5
I don't get it either......Paris.. clean, litter free England, grimey and a rubbish dump!
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Post by goldenmama on Jun 27, 2007 7:34:58 GMT -5
8-)I'm cool with all of those dirty, smelly things (well, actually I'd rather wet my pants than use a filthy toilet!) Its Paris!
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Post by GitteK on Jun 27, 2007 11:46:01 GMT -5
Toilets - toilets are not dirty in cafés or restaurants, not once have I seen that. I NEVER use public toilets - and certainly not after seeing the one in Charles de Gaulle Etoile. crappy is the word. Dog poop - that is one of these nasty rumours that are hard to kill. The do not see any more than anywhere else where people drag their dogs around, in fact less. I have never put my feet into a Parisian dog poop - I mean, you can be just a little bit awake while walking, right ? Air pollution - yes, very much so - and how can I tell ? When you walk around "downtown" you may get so accustomed to the bad air that you don't think much of it (unless you stand in the middle of Place de la Concorde during rushhour as I did yesterday - cough, cough, cough !). But every evening when I return to Montmartre which is located 120 meters above the rest of Paris, you can feel the change in the quality of the air instantly (and this is not some sneak-commercial, it has in fact been measured). The smog cannot reach up here, so the air is always fresher. Also there are hardly any cars going around on the hill. These are some of the major qualities of Montmartre: the fresh air and the absence of cars in the evening. Metro farts - yes, sometimes, not often but it happens. HOW CAN ANYONE DO THAT ? Metro bad breath - yes, frequently........ pfuiiiii! Metro stinky armpits - yes, sometimes. I find it extremely impolite to others not to wash and use underarm deodorant. Yuk. Concert bad breath - at the concert I attended in Saint-Denis I was seated next to a man who smelled so badly from his mouth, that I constantly had to turn my head away. And he even kissed his wife from time to time, poor thing.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jun 27, 2007 11:53:14 GMT -5
I have to concur about smog in summer -- one reason I'm not too fond of being in Paris at the height of summer is that I can recall a couple of early trips when the smog along the Seine (probably because it's in a bit of "basin") was worse than Los Angeles on the worst day I've seen (I get instant headaches, my chest hurts, etc. when it's that bad). But, that said, I've only seen that when the air is hot and very still (plus, I'm sure there are more cars on the streets in summer than the rest of the year).
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Post by joan1 on Jun 27, 2007 12:05:42 GMT -5
I found the comment about BO on the metro rather rude.
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Post by sistereurope on Jun 27, 2007 12:17:14 GMT -5
That remark really bothered me too, Joan - to make snide remarks about the French having invented soap was just condescending and rude.
All I can say is that the author should take a ride on the T (Boston subway) in the middle of summer during rush hour - WHEW...talk about dirty and smelly!!!
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Post by cybee on Jun 27, 2007 12:38:22 GMT -5
Apparently that writer must have been in a different Paris than I was! I never noted dog poo....and had been greatly warned about such prior to visiting Paris! I did not notice any body odor or bad breath..not more than any other place ! Such unpleasantness can occur anywhere, but my impression was that Paris was wonderfully clean and the people well groomed (and clean)! Oh, well....I know I was worried about toilets (again, having received dire warnings), but never had a problem with that either!
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Post by andi on Jun 27, 2007 12:44:16 GMT -5
We have a saying here about stepping in dog poop, "Muck for luck" So does that mean that if I find some Parisien poop and tread in it, I will win the lottery and live my dream?
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Post by paris54 on Jun 27, 2007 12:56:40 GMT -5
Smelly Paris - try NYC - the subway can be a horrible experience when it comes to odors. Mexico City can be pretty ripe as well. I have, years ago, stepped in a huge pile of doggy doo near St. Germaine. I have used horrible toilets in every city I have ever been in. I am very careful now as to where I go.
I didn't think the article was bad mouthing Paris per se. It was an attention getter.
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Post by Anne on Jun 27, 2007 14:17:05 GMT -5
Andi, the saying here is that you have to tread the poop with your LEFT foot in order to be lucky . I suspect that you are not going to wear your flip-flops next time you go to Paris ?
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Post by GitteK on Jul 1, 2007 14:13:37 GMT -5
joan and sistereurope: if you are referring to me, I must draw your attention to the fact that I did NOT make any generalizations about the hygiene of the French. I only said that people who do not wash properly and use underam deodorant are inconsiderate and impolite to others. This judgement goes for all nationalities, races and sexes - even middleaged, chubby, female Danes such as myself. This is not a French thing at all, I hope you understand that I have no such opinions about the people in Paris in general with whom I have just spent 2 wonderful weeks.
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Post by sistereurope on Jul 1, 2007 14:28:01 GMT -5
Oh my goodness no Gitte - I was referring to the article only!! I know that you would never disparage the French just to make yourself look funny or clever, which is what I felt that the author was doing. Moreover, I AGREE with you (see my post about the Boston subway - whoooo!)
My point was that I don't find the French as a people to be any dirtier or smellier than any other group of people, which is what I interpreted the author of that article as saying - and I didn't think it was fair.
Now to more pressing issues, woman - you're BACK already??!! I can't believe it!! Hope to hear more about your adventures after you settle in!
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