Sacre Couer Street Sellers and other Paris, France Warning Or Danger Tips

This was our fourth trip to Paris and I have never before had so much trouble with street vendors, perhaps because this was the first time we had our kids with us. Normally we are failry good humoured and carry on walking, and never before have I experienced them being aggressive so I was in for a shock as we circled the pavement at the base of the church on the way to the furnicular.

Like previous comments, a street vendor wrapped a little cotton round my 7 year old daughter's wrist and proceeded to make a bracelet. He did this despite my wife telling him no in a very firm voice. he then asked for money and my wife refused saying, "No I told you no!". By this time I was getting a little concerned and I asked him to remove the bracelet. At this point he became aggressive in tone and said, "You just want it for nothing so you don't have to pay, well I don't need your money". At this point I told him we had said no and he said, "Go away you are bad parents". I replied (in French), "No we are good parents, you are a bad street vendor so you can jus f*** off." I realise this was not the most diplomatic way to handle things but I was furious. Anyway, we got to the bottom of the furnicular and when we looked at the bracelet it was very tight on my daughter's wrist and we had to cut it off (poor we thing she wondered what on earth was going on). I then went back to him and said, "Monsiuer, pour vous, bon journee", as I threw the bracelet on the ground, which I knew would just irritate him even more and he said, "I don't want to see you here again". I told him that he didn't tell me what to do and I turned my back and walked off.

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