A tip I have about this place — 9 months ago
Whether your going up or down, there are peddlers and vendors who know you’re a tourist. If you stop to listen to them, they will NOT leave you alone.
We were leaving Sacre-Coeur and a guy (from Africa, he says), grabbed my husband’s finger very kindly and started braiding a bracelet. I thought, ‘oh, how nice, a token for our honeymoon.’ Another guy (also from Africa) grabs my finger and starts doing the same thing. They were very nice, congratulated us on our marriage, wished us the best, etc.
Then they said “10-10”, and I thought, 10 euro for both? Well, that’s a bit much, but hey, whatever. Then they reiterated 10 EURO FOR EACH – can you believe that? We didn’t even ask for the damn pieces of string!
I lied and said I had no euro and gave them a $20 bill, which I knew was about 13.50 euros. Then one of them had the nerve to ask for the change in my hand “for a cup of coffee”. WTF?! I just GAVE you a $20 bill! Coffee is expensive there, but I’m sure 13 euros would cover it.
Peddlers in Paris have no sense of value – they will ask for an outrageous amount and won’t really barter down for it.
So, I thought I would warn anyone who visits. Our cousin had been here and hadn’t bothered to warn us about these people; that they even followed her all the way to the Moulin Rouge! I think we should ask her for $20…
PS. Sacre-Coeur and it’s hill is gorgeous; stay up there as long as possible before dodging the “vendors” at the bottom.
