Safety Notes for the Tour

This tour has you looking at photos on screen now and then as you walk, so before you set off, here are three things to watch out for at all times. Even if you see a little less, safety comes first.

**1. Watch your step.** You'll be walking around to look at buildings. Sometimes you'll view them from the sidewalk and sometimes while standing in an alley. When you walk or cross the street, watch out for motorcycles and cars and obey the traffic signals.

**2. Pickpockets.** The main crime aimed at tourists in Paris is pickpocketing. Usually two or three people work together, approaching to split your attention and then robbing you, or getting something on you and approaching to point it out or pretending to wipe it off. Some also distract you in cafés and restaurants with a pretext such as asking you to sign something, and take valuables from the table. They are especially active on the metro and at famous sights. Remember that in restaurants and cafés, the only time you'd ever sign is when paying by card.

Here's a personal story. I've traveled around Europe quite a bit and have never actually been robbed, but there have been two attempts. The catch is that you don't realize it at the time; only back at your lodging, once you've calmed down, do you think, "I almost got robbed!" In Rome, I was waiting at a crosswalk on the way to a square near the Vatican when a man and woman came up and asked, "Is this the Vatican?", asking one thing after another and repeatedly pressing in from both sides. I said "No" and "I don't know," crossed the crosswalk immediately and ran into the square, and they didn't follow. I didn't think about it then, but afterward it seemed odd. I was dressed like an obvious tourist, and in Europe it's not natural to ask an Asian person for directions. My bag had a padlock on every zipper, my phone was tethered to the bag, and I had a ring looped on my finger, so I think they gave up and left.

**3. Protests.** There's a joke that in Paris, it takes only three people to start a protest. For a safe trip, if you come across protesters, don't approach, watch or photograph them. Running, big movements or sudden actions can be misunderstood, so quietly leave the scene as quickly as you can.

The starting point is the Chapelle Saint-Vincent-de-Paul. Use the in-app map to find it.