As soon as you step off the metro @ Strasbourg Saint Denis or Chateau d'Eau, you may notice a line of black African men standing in the corridors or at la sortie de metro. These men may approach you and ask if you want your nails or eyebrows done, but mostly they are selling hair products for African women. and they are working off commission, so sometimes they resort to harrassing and pulling your arm. Since I have been going there, I have been only asked once. Usually I hold on to the arm of my husband and they don't approach me. Don't be alarmed and just say no.
Another problem is prostitution. The number of women you see may depend on the time of day, usually there are more women at night. and the pimps often stand with them on the street, to encouraging selling. Y and I were asked if we wanted to do a threesome with a woman and I just looked at the pimp and said "WTF". So that is why SSD has a bad reputation, but don't be scared off.
DO:
- check out the neighborhood and take in it's wonderful qualities
- have fun, you are on vacation
- walk with people you trust
- check out my previous ideas and let me know what you think
DON'T:
- walk around at night/early morning, it can often be dangerous
- act stupid or walk drunk, it is easier for people to take advantage of you
Please comment if you have other suggestions, about visiting the area or if you have encountered it's fault.
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