Do not go to Moulin Rouge !

[GitteK]

I cannot recommend going to Moulin Rouge, as it is very touristy and commercialized, IMO.

[jpcat]

Gitte- thanks for this report. Don't feel foolish - imagine that you are an under-cover journalist exposing the worst tourist trap in Paris. And we are all grateful!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Okay, well that certainly is a definitive answer to the questions one hears from time to time! Thanks, and I agree with jpcat - just think of yourself as a crusading investigator protecting "tourist rights" for everyone!

[holger]

Gitte,

So sorry. What a bummer. But you have reported in such a way to save anyone else tempted.

[toutou]

Gitte - sorry you fell for this. So many people do. To me the smell just walking by it is enough to keep me out.

[Shoesy]

Great post, Gitte, and it will surely dissuade any of us from making the same mistake as you did. I'm really sorry for your disappointment, which meant not only a waste of money but a waste of a precious evening. Well, I guess now none of us will be tempted to fall into that tourist trap. Obviously there are people out there who have actually enjoyed M.R., but not everyone has good taste, right? BTW, were your companions as disappointed as you were?

[Happygoin]

I was wondering the same thing, Shoesy. I always wonder, when people are planning a trip, and the Moulin Rouge is a MUST-DO for them, what they've heard that makes them want to go so badly. It has never tempted me and, now, never will.

If it makes you feel any better, Gitte, I should have known better than to wander into the horrid restaurant behind the Eiffel Tower when the man was on the sidewalk herding us in...but I went anyway. Lesson learned.

[trechic]

Thank you Gitte, for sharing this! I am so sorry you and your companions had such a miserable time. I am not sure if I have read enough unfavorable comments with regard to M.R. - but I, too, had never considered adding it to my list of MUST DO'S (probably because you had never mentioned it before! I usually follow this simple rule. If Gitte says GO...I will. If Gitte says, DO NOT GO....then I won't!!)
I hope the rest of your time more than makes up for this one dissapointment! Can't wait to hear all about it! Tre

[luckyluc]

Ma pauvre Gitte, il faut aller chez Michou, c'est beaucoup plus rigolo... but thank you anyway for your investigation and your colorful reporting that should put a end to that debate; if ever there was one!

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

I suspect it went onto a lot of lists after the movie came out - they think that it's going to be like that, or at least that it will have that sensibility, but obviously nothing could be further from the truth (as has now been confirmed for us by the most reliable source possible).

I have to admit, when I first got over to that area I was curious to see it (from the old posters) but even from the outside it was quite a disappointment (and I must say, I had not ever even considered going to one of the shows). But you're right, there are quite a few people who think this is an absolute "must" and that is a puzzler since they somehow seem to think that if they don't go they haven't "really" seen the "real" Paris - as if!

[dep0515]

Yikes! This is something that I was on the fence about, but my mom really wanted to do, so it was on our list and I have even bought tickets through Cityrama. After I showed this post to my mom, she said "Forget it!". Hopefully I can get my money back.

Thanks, Gitte, for this post.

[Truffaut]

I couldn't agree more with Gitte on this one! We went with my dad and his friend. I'm glad I saw it, but I would NEVER do it again and would never recommend it to anyone else. "Cattle" is the operative word in the way guests are treated. Truly horrible.

[greyghost1]

Suspect "Crazy Horse" also falls right in line with it. I have never understood why one would want to go to such an obvious T.T. But nice it twas you, GitteK, who forked out the 92 euros, rather than us poor mericans with the high exchange rate. Esp. when you could have had a superb bottle of champagne .

[iank9]

Never wanted to go and probably won't ever go! Thank you Gittek.

Much prefer the more intimate venues rather than the tourist trap places, for example a romantic meal I booked some years ago at Le Procope.................. Never, never again!

[geordy]

I went on my first trip to Paris in 1987. This was the trip where I got a bad cold in London, sprained my ankle the first night in Paris, was traveling with sis and best friend at the time(who was on anti-depressives which she failed to mention) who were not seeing eye to eye but being polite to each other and complaining to me.....amoung other things!(chronicled on the other place)

One of the shows(Moulin Rouge, Follies Bergere(I just stayed near there!!) etc. was at the time definitely on our "to do list"
So Moulin Rouge it was...I was in my little black Paris dress with my ankle in an Ace(elastic pressure) bandage!! And heels!

Booked it through Cityrama or one of those so it was the standard"...and half a bottle of Champagne per person..." deal.
We were just the three..got there on our own and had our own table....but do recall being sort of swallowed up in a larger group all around. Champagne was in the saucer type glasses then.

Recall a swimming pool act?? Is that still on? Just sort of your average variety show but with half naked ladies...and I was worried about my cleavage showing in my LBD!!

I too was waiting for the cancan..and was disappointed thinking it might not happen(BF was chirping "this is a modern city, not a movie set"..she did that often..like when the first sidewalk cafes we saw when driving into Paris had plastic chairs and I was upset...but then of course we came upon the "real ones! "

Can can finally came and it was pretty good...maybe they've "modernized "it!

Never felt a need to go to another one though. Once while staying near the Champs Elysees I was invited to go to the Lido but the last show had already begun. Would have gone as it was a solo night and the invite came from a friendly group S/O and I had met in the bar...but other than that no.

I think the Crazy Horse is much more of a "gentleman's club" atmosphere, with more erotic dancers.

[GitteK]

geordy - yes, they still have the watertank with the sedated pythons.

I have never been to variety shows before - but I can tell lousy quality and "not-even-trying" and "scre*w-the-customers-as-long-as-we-can-use-them-as-money-milking-cows".

I am sure there must be somewhere on this planet high quality shows, elegantly staged, gorgeous girls, beautiful choreography, real orchestra, sparklingly funny entertainers, great singers, artistes, magicians etc. THAT's what I expected to see.

Can't stress it enough - Moulin Rouge is NOTHING of that.

Other trip tips, if you want:
www.ourparisforum.com/index.cgi?board=reports&action=display&thread=1190843588&page=1

[geordy]

Pythons???!!!! Not sure I recall those..and I think I would!

[geordy]

I was probably too busy making sure I got my share of the Champagne and wishing my companions were in the tank(!) to notice the slithery ones if they were there in those days!!!

[greyghost1]

What on earth do pythons drugged or not, have anything to do with Moulin Rouge? That's gross.

[Shoesy]

Gitte - Your William may not have been a python in a former life, but perhaps he is related to the Boston Strangler !!!