Precautions to Take in Paris

They live in suburbs with too much time on their hands and too much anger in their hearts.  They’re not prepared for the job market. This outrage of criminal acts is primarily confined to their own communities where they are burning their own cars and even nursery schools which their siblings attend.       These problems have been festering for years and it was only a matter of time before an explosion.  This isn’t the time to lay blame.  Chirac was adamant in saying that before change can take place (whether education or social services), the rioting has to stop.       Ironically, these youths want their neighborhoods to be police-free zones. Many of them use or deal drugs.  Their acts are forcing the government to call in more police — and an increasing number will be mobilized if required.       Please do not get me wrong: I have great compassion for these second generation citizens. It’s time the French government deals with these mounting problems.       However, I lack sympathy when youths attempt to torch an ambulance with a   patient.       Will this hurt French tourism?  Naturally.  Should people not come to Paris? Au contraire!  People should still come to Paris and enjoy themselves.  Follow a few simple guidelines during this time of unrest and your trip should be perfectly safe:     If you’re going to go around Paris at night, try to stick to the 1st – 8th arrondissements.  These are the more heavily populated areas of Paris, loaded with well-to-do citizens, tourists and police.     Stay away from the lesser known Paris arrondissements at night.  If you don’t know which ones those are, ask yourself if there’s a big tourist attraction there.  If there is, the arrondissement will be a safe one.       With two exceptions: Montmartre and République  have both had small attacks; use caution when visiting these areas at night.     Don’t wander into the Paris suburbs at night.          If you plan on spending the day in Fontainebleau or Versailles or any of the other day-trip tourist destinations via train, make sure you come back to your hotel during the daytime, as many of the RER’s fill up with youth in the evening.     Consider for the next week, taking an Air France bus or a taxi from Charles de Gaulle Airport into town.       Are we being overly cautious?  Yes.  Why?  We want you to feel comfortable on your next trip to Paris.  And we want you to know that you can trust us to do our best to take care of you.  On a personal note, I’ve lived in France for 17 years and 99% of the places that have been affected have never been on my "to-see" list of destinations.  I’m not at all concerned for myself, and still feel completely safe in Paris.  However, I am deeply saddened for the France I love that these atrocities are taking place.      [email protected]