What was your first visit in Paris really like?
Help, how do I enjoy living in Paris? I've been living in Paris for 3 months now, and I hate it so far.
It's incredibly dirty, the weather sucks, the food is bland and overpriced, the subway is a mess, shops close super early, people don't do their jobs properly, bureaucracy is a nightmare, it's dangerous at night, apartments are run-down and insanely expensive, everything is inconvenient from buying things online to getting a subway pass.
I'll stop there. People live here and seem to maybe enjoy it, what am I doing wrong? What is the wonderful appeal of Paris?
I'm going to be living here for another 6 months (possibly a year or so), what can I do? Almost 2 years since I moved to Paris. It is a beautiful city, there are plenty of events, places to go to by just wondering in its streets. But ngl, my anxiety sky rocketed since I moved here. Covid played a role in it ik. Let me tell you something about Paris: super crowded, you cannot see the horizon: buildings so tall and crowded that you feel your soul smashed. Plus, the apartments are so tiny, you rent a 18m apartment for 800 euros or more and it feels like living in a cell. I love Paris, it is indeed beautiful ❤️ but if you cannot speak the language fluently or live in a 20m apartment or doesn't like crowded fast paced life style (people always in a hurry) then Paris isn't the right place for you trust me.
I was based in London and then my job shifted me first to Brussels, and then last year I was asked to go to Paris to handle a project here, was only supposed to be temporary but covid hit and it has dragged on. But I think if they asked me to go back to Brussels I'd probably just quit.
The 14th of July is quite a big day in France. While in Paris if you wake up early and happy to spend your morning standing in the Champs Élysées and interested in patriotic display of military might, go and see the 14th of July military parade.
You may get a glimpse of the President leading the parade, and see all bunch of troopers marching in rightful order, along with tanks, assault vehicles and military jets overflights. Grandiose! I went there a couple of times. Can’t help but watching it every year on tv.
Military aside, on the night of the 14th of July there is that massive firework display usually on the Champ de Mars, right by the Eiffel tower, bring your picnic some bottles and enjoy the evening. It may be crowded tho… All night long there always are a bunch of parties, the best ones are held by the firefighters inside their own fire brigades. Need to check on the venues, but those are super fun, cheesy French classic pop music guaranteed and very safe.
I think people go to Paris and forget that actual modern humans live and work and function in all the neighborhoods, even the very centres with all the tourist attractions. It’s not like say Florence or Venice where a lot of the historic city centre isn’t actually the centre of city life for locals. It’s also much bigger and the capital of France.
Haven’t been to Paris yet and I’m sure it isn’t as beautiful and nice as it looks in pictures (like every major city), but it’s surprising just how many people consider it extremely overrated and not even worth visiting. For people who have traveled there, is Paris really that overrated?
I used to live there after college and I think it’s beautiful in a old and gritty way but most cities outside of Paris are so much nicer/cooler. The art scene in Paris can’t be beat imo but it’s also super filthy just like here in Los Angeles lol.
I was never interested in visiting Paris growing up as i thought it too much of a...cliche. In the past year i've been watching a few travel vlogs and cooking shows that made this city seem attractive...I would like to take my girlfriend there for our may anniversary, experience french cuisine first hand....but... My question is: is it worth it? Many friends who visited say it's dangerous, dirty and a disappointment. Now i know that this is a very subjective sort of thing, but any and all answers are appreciated! Do you guys know of any decent and cheap(ish) hotels? Also: is it safe, with all the recent Calais troubles?
For context, I am an Italian who has been living in London for the past 7 years or so.
Maybe it’s the pressure of settling after so much time (and buying a flat and the endless commuting, etc.) but I have recently started considering leaving London for another European capital (not Italy). There are things I love about being here but in the end most of my time is spent working/commuting/living far from the actual ‘centre’ and the appeal of living in such a big city without enjoying it fully is sort of wearing off. For others who left London for Paris, how do you find it? Any regrets?
So I'm going to Paris for three days with my family but I'm not sure what "things" there are to do. We've booked a dinner at the Eiffel Tower restraunt and are planning to go see the Mona Lisa but apart from that we have no other ideas. I know this is very touristy but I hope someone can provide me with any type of ideas or advice.
I’m from Ireland, and have just spent the weekend in Paris. I’ve been to many European cities over the last 10 years, and I don’t recall meeting people as friendly, good humoured, and helpful as the people of Paris. I don’t understand this reputation American and British films have created of the French as snobby and judgemental. Nothing could be further from the truth. My kind of people, and I will be back. Well, I’ve been living here for a year and a half now and came here to study the language before going on to study cinema. However, it seems I can’t go a day or few without feeling incredibly defeated solely based on the fact that I don’t speak French... well enough. I get weird stares when speaking or an instant attitude from those without patience. Even when I correctly answer the questions posed to me, they repeat it because they either misunderstood me or they couldn’t hear through my accent. But when they do? They repeat it louder as if I’m deaf or something and slowly as if I’m stupid. I never came here thinking it would be easy, but my depression has severely worsened to the point where I have attempted several times since being here. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but to be completely obliterated on a day to day purely because of my difficulty in the language is just getting unbearable despite my best efforts to try. I’m tired of feeling defeated over an obstacle I know is able to be overcame. I have a wonderful fiancé whom I absolutely adore and supports me thoroughly on my journey here in France, but I really am at my wits end. I’ve sought counselling, reached out to other expats who then told me of similar experiences or other Parisians who say « c’est la France! » Downvote me into oblivion. I don’t care. It’s the least of my worries right now. I really just want to know what I’m legitimately missing here when it comes to interacting with Parisians because it’s like no matter how hard you try (be polite, try in French,) they are truly never satisfied and it makes even just getting to the grocery store for toilet paper seem like a mountainous task.
It's incredibly dirty, the weather sucks, the food is bland and overpriced, the subway is a mess, shops close super early, people don't do their jobs properly, bureaucracy is a nightmare, it's dangerous at night, apartments are run-down and insanely expensive, everything is inconvenient from buying things online to getting a subway pass.
I'll stop there. People live here and seem to maybe enjoy it, what am I doing wrong? What is the wonderful appeal of Paris?
I'm going to be living here for another 6 months (possibly a year or so), what can I do? Almost 2 years since I moved to Paris. It is a beautiful city, there are plenty of events, places to go to by just wondering in its streets. But ngl, my anxiety sky rocketed since I moved here. Covid played a role in it ik. Let me tell you something about Paris: super crowded, you cannot see the horizon: buildings so tall and crowded that you feel your soul smashed. Plus, the apartments are so tiny, you rent a 18m apartment for 800 euros or more and it feels like living in a cell. I love Paris, it is indeed beautiful ❤️ but if you cannot speak the language fluently or live in a 20m apartment or doesn't like crowded fast paced life style (people always in a hurry) then Paris isn't the right place for you trust me.
I was based in London and then my job shifted me first to Brussels, and then last year I was asked to go to Paris to handle a project here, was only supposed to be temporary but covid hit and it has dragged on. But I think if they asked me to go back to Brussels I'd probably just quit.
The 14th of July is quite a big day in France. While in Paris if you wake up early and happy to spend your morning standing in the Champs Élysées and interested in patriotic display of military might, go and see the 14th of July military parade.
You may get a glimpse of the President leading the parade, and see all bunch of troopers marching in rightful order, along with tanks, assault vehicles and military jets overflights. Grandiose! I went there a couple of times. Can’t help but watching it every year on tv.
Military aside, on the night of the 14th of July there is that massive firework display usually on the Champ de Mars, right by the Eiffel tower, bring your picnic some bottles and enjoy the evening. It may be crowded tho… All night long there always are a bunch of parties, the best ones are held by the firefighters inside their own fire brigades. Need to check on the venues, but those are super fun, cheesy French classic pop music guaranteed and very safe.
I think people go to Paris and forget that actual modern humans live and work and function in all the neighborhoods, even the very centres with all the tourist attractions. It’s not like say Florence or Venice where a lot of the historic city centre isn’t actually the centre of city life for locals. It’s also much bigger and the capital of France.
Haven’t been to Paris yet and I’m sure it isn’t as beautiful and nice as it looks in pictures (like every major city), but it’s surprising just how many people consider it extremely overrated and not even worth visiting. For people who have traveled there, is Paris really that overrated?
I used to live there after college and I think it’s beautiful in a old and gritty way but most cities outside of Paris are so much nicer/cooler. The art scene in Paris can’t be beat imo but it’s also super filthy just like here in Los Angeles lol.
I was never interested in visiting Paris growing up as i thought it too much of a...cliche. In the past year i've been watching a few travel vlogs and cooking shows that made this city seem attractive...I would like to take my girlfriend there for our may anniversary, experience french cuisine first hand....but... My question is: is it worth it? Many friends who visited say it's dangerous, dirty and a disappointment. Now i know that this is a very subjective sort of thing, but any and all answers are appreciated! Do you guys know of any decent and cheap(ish) hotels? Also: is it safe, with all the recent Calais troubles?
For context, I am an Italian who has been living in London for the past 7 years or so.
Maybe it’s the pressure of settling after so much time (and buying a flat and the endless commuting, etc.) but I have recently started considering leaving London for another European capital (not Italy). There are things I love about being here but in the end most of my time is spent working/commuting/living far from the actual ‘centre’ and the appeal of living in such a big city without enjoying it fully is sort of wearing off. For others who left London for Paris, how do you find it? Any regrets?
So I'm going to Paris for three days with my family but I'm not sure what "things" there are to do. We've booked a dinner at the Eiffel Tower restraunt and are planning to go see the Mona Lisa but apart from that we have no other ideas. I know this is very touristy but I hope someone can provide me with any type of ideas or advice.
I’m from Ireland, and have just spent the weekend in Paris. I’ve been to many European cities over the last 10 years, and I don’t recall meeting people as friendly, good humoured, and helpful as the people of Paris. I don’t understand this reputation American and British films have created of the French as snobby and judgemental. Nothing could be further from the truth. My kind of people, and I will be back. Well, I’ve been living here for a year and a half now and came here to study the language before going on to study cinema. However, it seems I can’t go a day or few without feeling incredibly defeated solely based on the fact that I don’t speak French... well enough. I get weird stares when speaking or an instant attitude from those without patience. Even when I correctly answer the questions posed to me, they repeat it because they either misunderstood me or they couldn’t hear through my accent. But when they do? They repeat it louder as if I’m deaf or something and slowly as if I’m stupid. I never came here thinking it would be easy, but my depression has severely worsened to the point where I have attempted several times since being here. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but to be completely obliterated on a day to day purely because of my difficulty in the language is just getting unbearable despite my best efforts to try. I’m tired of feeling defeated over an obstacle I know is able to be overcame. I have a wonderful fiancé whom I absolutely adore and supports me thoroughly on my journey here in France, but I really am at my wits end. I’ve sought counselling, reached out to other expats who then told me of similar experiences or other Parisians who say « c’est la France! » Downvote me into oblivion. I don’t care. It’s the least of my worries right now. I really just want to know what I’m legitimately missing here when it comes to interacting with Parisians because it’s like no matter how hard you try (be polite, try in French,) they are truly never satisfied and it makes even just getting to the grocery store for toilet paper seem like a mountainous task.
