Dodgy Paris?

<p>1 week mini-europe trip upcoming in April, about 2 of the days will be Paris - still need to do all my normal research around best sites and travel options etc - but is there any areas of places you'd avoid, from a point of view of getting camera gear nabbed or otherwise mugged?</p>

 

<p>Avoid it like the plague, the same goes for Berlin and Barcelona. I believe these places are worse than Detroit. Even Dr. Claw wouldn't go there.........</p>

<p>Watch out for ISS (of course)...and everyone else.</p>

<p>Opinions will vary. Mine is based upon spending two weeks travelling France by train, Dec 27th 2015 to Jan 10th 2016.</p>

<p>I was in Paris Dec 26th to Jan 2nd and travelled mostly everywhere on foot, but sometimes by Taxi or Subway. I just took the usual precautions that one would in any large city but didn’t avoid any area, necessarily. I had a great New Years Eve dinner at a wonderful restaurant opposite Notre Dame and walked back to the hotel from there which was about 2kms.</p>

<p>There is a reasonably high Military presence and also an high Police presence on the streets and Paris itself remains under the Parliament invoked Emergency Orders – which as a practical consequence to the public means that entry to many places requires a search of bags and body scan and or a body pat down – which for me is no big deal at all. Visiting Theatre requires a bit of additional time to allow those security procedures.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18156290-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="498" /><br /> <strong>Jardin des Tuileries, Paris Dec 2015</strong></p>

<p>I carried my camera gear everywhere except for NYE dinner when I only took my Fuji x100s in my Jacket pocket: my travel kit comprised a Lowepro sling bag with 5D Series 24 to 105/4L 16 to 35/2.8L and the Fuji x100s and some odds and sods. For the trip, I was accompanied by a female and neither of us at any time felt that we were in danger - (and, by the way, that comment relates and includes later Spain where I hired a car to drive around for two weeks - again taking only the normal personal security precautions that i would in any case, if I were at home).</p>

<p>Even if you don't necessarily plan specific sites to visit: which if you've not been there before I suggests you do - but also maybe just walk around and I am sure you'll find plenty to photograph to suit your interests.</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18156298-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="498" /><br /> <strong>"Cool Blue Cruiser" Street Portrait Paris, 2016</strong></p>

<p>Paris is a great city and the people generally are wonderful and willing to engage, and most speak English if you do not speak French - but speaking a little French always helps break the ice and/or get a positive reaction:<br /> <img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/18156299-md.jpg" alt="" /><br /> <strong>"My New Selfie Stick" - Candid Portrait, Paris Cafe, 2016</strong><br /> <br /> On the topic of comparatives: I have also travelled throughout Berlin (and Hamburg) on foot and by Subway during 2014 and 2015 and I have already mentioned driving throughout Spain in 2016, though I did not visit Barcelona. I felt there were no greater or lesser security issues that I needed to take other than common sense and normal personal security that I would engage. I have not been to Detroit so I can't give a view of a comparison on that City.</p>

<p>On the topic of (ISS) - which I assume alludes to terrorist attacks: my view is that can happen in mostly any City anywhere and at any time.</p>

<p>WW</p>

<p>We spent 10 days in Paris last June - mostly around the center of the city this time. We walked (a lot), used the metro, carried camera equipment and stayed out until all hours. Not even a hint of an issue. As the previous poster pointed out there are more police and military than we're used to seeing, but that was in the background as far as we could see. Never had an issue in Paris, although we keep our wallets as securely as possible (BTW never react to the inevitable announcement in a metro station about pickpockets by touching the pocket with your wallet - hard to control that urge). As usual I'd recommend getting out and enjoying, and back off on the paranoia.</p>