I am traveling next week to Paris arriving on Saturday with my two teens. I am worried about the elevated warning that was just issued to American travelers traveling to Paris. Are the yellow vest protest getting more violent on the weekend? Just wondering what others recent experiences have been and any advise? We are staying in Le Madeline which appears close to where they protest. All thoughts welcomed-)
Posted by
South Florida
776 posts
I suppose the Embassy has to make these alarmist warnings, but it's also a reason I don't subscribe to them. If you mean that you're staying in the area of La Madeleine, properly Ste-Marie Madeleine, by looking on a map you can see that you're well away from the commercial part of the Champs where these Saturday protests have traditionally taken place. It's easy to avoid these protests. Enjoy your visit.
Posted by
Panguitch, Utah
2707 posts
I am worried about the elevated warning that was just issued
The US Embassy has been issuing these for months, probably since last November. Not sure why you find yesterdays so alarming. If anything, there is less destruction now than there was some weeks ago.
Protesters are not interested in you and they are very easy to avoid.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14744 posts
I saw that newest alarming threat statement. I’m currently visiting Paris. I’m old and slow and don’t have much in the way of city smarts, lol.
Last Saturday the total impact of the Gilets Jaunes on my day was to spend 5 minutes at breakfast checking the RATP app (Metro app) to see what stations were closed. None were on routes I planned to take. I took the Metro to the Cluny Museum of Moyen-Age, had lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant nearby, walked to the church of Saint-Sulpice, walked on to the church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres, popped in to the nearby Museum Eugene Delacroix since I had a Museum Pass, then headed for the Rodin Museum (also because I had the Museum Pass). Then after gelato in the garden continued the walk back to my hotel. I got over 7 miles on my FitBit.
The day was sunny and gorgeous. I believe every family with children was outside today. Parks were filled. Masses of ice cream was being consumed. People were sitting in every grassy area where it was allowed. Kids were playing volleyball on the Esplanade in front of the Army Museum.
I saw not one Gilet Jaune. I did see about half a dozen police vans lines up in the afternoon near the Rodin Museum. They were all getting carry out stuff from the Patisserie they were parked in front of.
As far as I could tell, the first paragraph of that warning could apply to any major city in the US.
Download the RATP app. Check it Saturday after you arrive. Plan your Saturday activity. Have a fabulous time.