Sad about Paris

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree that when you go back and visit places decades later, they just aren't the same. I'm fortunate to have visited Paris a handful of time between the mid-90s and 2012. I haven't been in ten years, but am planning my first solo trip and my first trip to Paris since my oldest child was born. I'm going to walk and walk and do what I want each day. I'm going to eat pastries and terrines and sip coffee in cafes. During my solo meals at lovely bistros, I will certainly be offended by the behavior of other tourists. And at least three Parisians will make fun of my clumsy French. Every day. And unless it rains for five days straight, IT WILL BE AMAZING.

Ooooh I absolutely love Paris in the rain!! It’s so fun to wander a bit with a good coat and umbrella and then slip into a cafe to warm up. Have fun! Paris solo is my favorite, even though my husband is French and we got engaged there, I still think I prefer rambling around on my own!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Paris is the central hub for both Asia and the US. 14M travelers each year. Paris airport is one of the largest in the world.

And yet, there is no decent food in the terminals

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s not just Paris, it’s everywhere. Thank social media.

Completely agree with this. Before social media all the people who didn't care enough to already know the best spots would go to the same old touristy places. Now, through social media, many more have heard about Mt St Michel, and show up to stand around looking at their phones.

[Anonymous]

The number of tourist everywhere is off putting. We now stay clear of most big cities in Europe and even in US. There are still plenty of options.

[Anonymous]

I went to Paris for the first time a year ago December and absolutely loved it, as did my college aged kids, all of us our first time. We stayed in an apartment in the Marais and did all the things. It was perfect even though the weather was less so. Barely saw other tourists actually. Not sure what OP is complaining about?

[Anonymous]

Just got back from two weeks in Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands. It was amazing. I can't imagine being so jaded.

[Anonymous]

I'm Parisian, OP.

The only time I was able to see the Mona Lisa in an empty room was when France had just lifted Covid restrictions but non-EU foreigners were not allowed in the country. During that trip in early June 2021, my kids saw Paris and all major monuments as they had been 50 years ago (Notre Dame excepted, luckily we'd visited right before it burned down). It would have been glorious were it not for the millions of deaths that triggered the travel ban.

This is the new world order. Tourists are everywhere. Culture is available to the masses. We need to enforce quotas to our most vulnerable cultural locations so they are not too degraded.

[Anonymous]

It's you that changed. I'm not even interested in Paris, Rome, London. But when I was young I was thrilled to do the most trivial things in these places. Even getting a cup of coffee or walking down a street!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's you that changed. I'm not even interested in Paris, Rome, London. But when I was young I was thrilled to do the most trivial things in these places. Even getting a cup of coffee or walking down a street!

THIS. nothing is ever the same as it was, but it may offer something new the next time you go. You're too hung up on what was.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's you that changed. I'm not even interested in Paris, Rome, London. But when I was young I was thrilled to do the most trivial things in these places. Even getting a cup of coffee or walking down a street!

THIS. nothing is ever the same as it was, but it may offer something new the next time you go. You're too hung up on what was.

Crowds are undeniably worse, in every single remotely popular tourist destination. And its not accounted for simply by population increase. Its more than that. And it does really diminish the experience. Its not a faulty memory or getting old.

[Anonymous]

Go visit Bhutan.

[Anonymous]

Go in the winter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's you that changed. I'm not even interested in Paris, Rome, London. But when I was young I was thrilled to do the most trivial things in these places. Even getting a cup of coffee or walking down a street!

THIS. nothing is ever the same as it was, but it may offer something new the next time you go. You're too hung up on what was.

Crowds are undeniably worse, in every single remotely popular tourist destination. And its not accounted for simply by population increase. Its more than that. And it does really diminish the experience. Its not a faulty memory or getting old.

I don’t doubt that the crowds are worse. I think OP was lamenting the fact that Paris wasn’t like it was in the 90s. As many have pointed out, for better or worse, no place on the face of the planet is the same as it was in the 90s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The number of tourist everywhere is off putting. We now stay clear of most big cities in Europe and even in US. There are still plenty of options.

That's the thing. The number of beautiful little cities I will never visit in Europe is astounding. If you want to go off the beaten track, just pick a less known destination.

My most fun trips in the US have absolutely been little stopovers to places I didn't expect to be so charming. Pittsburgh. Savannah. Albany. Whereas L.A. and Chicago were disappointing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I'm Parisian, OP.

The only time I was able to see the Mona Lisa in an empty room was when France had just lifted Covid restrictions but non-EU foreigners were not allowed in the country. During that trip in early June 2021, my kids saw Paris and all major monuments as they had been 50 years ago (Notre Dame excepted, luckily we'd visited right before it burned down). It would have been glorious were it not for the millions of deaths that triggered the travel ban.

This is the new world order. Tourists are everywhere. Culture is available to the masses. We need to enforce quotas to our most vulnerable cultural locations so they are not too degraded.

I remember feeling glad that the people in these cities got a break and were able to enjoy the wonderful things about them without being overrun. A small bright side to a terrible time.