Paris is not as beautiful as in the films

Paris is still like a magnet that attracts millions of people to come. However, Paris also has dark sides.

KOMPAS/AGUIDO ADRI

The night atmosphere in the city of Paris, France, aboard a tourist boat called Bateau Parisien, which carries tourists along the Seine River, on Tuesday (18/7/2023). From a distance, the lights of the Eiffel Tower can be seen.

The city of Paris is preparing to welcome a big event. Within 77 days from Friday (10/5/2024), the Olympic Games will open in the French capital. Towards the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics, residents face two sides: bright and dark.

Paris is often called one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The December 12 2023 edition of the Euronews page released a list of the best travel destination cities throughout the year. Paris is at the top of the rankings. The Eiffel Tower and other magnificent buildings and monuments make up the face of the city so that it looks charming. The Seine River that divides the city completes its beauty.

Since the 17th century, Paris has been the center of finance, diplomacy, trade, culture, fashion and culinary world. In the 19th century, Paris became known as ”City of Lights”.

Also read: 2024 Paris Olympics and Anxiety about Fading French at Home

Thanks to its beauty, Paris is often the setting for films. Just to mention there is the romantic film Before Sunset (1994) starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, as well as the series Emily in Paris ( 2020) starring Lily Collins.

On May 3, Netflix announced that the latest episode of Emily in Paris season four will be broadcast on August 15 2024. The right moment to enjoy it, after the excitement of the Paris Olympics is over.

AFP/DIMITAR DILKOFF

A photo archive from March 5, 2024 shows the front side of the Georges Vallerey swimming pool that is being renovated for the Olympic and Paralympic training pool in Paris, France.

Exploring the architecture of Paris is one of the obligatory agendas when visiting the city. Museum after museum offers the best experience to see the journey of the world from the past to the present. Not to mention for fashion enthusiasts, Paris is one of the world's fashion hubs. Boutiques selling everything from head to toe are scattered in various corners of the city.

The issue of air pollution is not new. The conditions of communities threatened by air pollution have existed for a long time. Research evidence showing the threats of air pollution's impact is also significant. Nevertheless, such evidence has not led to a significant effort in controlling air pollution, leaving residents amid the suffocating air pollution. The Seine River, one of Paris's icons, also offers a unique atmosphere when paddling on it. A planned opening ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics is set to be held on the river. The city government is making a concerted effort for the river to be clean from all contamination and even be used for aquatic competitions during the Olympics.

Throughout its implementation from July 26 to August 11, 2024, the Paris 2024 Olympics are expected to attract up to 15 million people. Based on the official January 1, 2023 census, the population of Paris reached 2,102,650, making it the fourth largest municipal city in the European Union. It can be imagined how bustling and crowded the city will be during the Olympics.

Strike

So, when on May 2 2024 news emerged that Paris janitors were threatening to go on strike, the image of the glittering Olympic Games turned dark. The French news agency, AFP, reported that the cleaners were demanding an additional 400 euros (Rp. 6.9 million) per month in wages for their work in the Paris area.

AP PHOTO/CHRISTOPHE ENA

Residents pass by a pile of garbage in Paris, France on February 4th, 2020, following a strike by sanitation workers due to the national pension system policy.

Officials who worked during the Olympics are demanding an additional bonus of 1,900 euros (IDR 32.8 million). They claim that they will be burdened with excessive work due to the Olympics. "We will give everything and want it to be considered," said Nabil Latreche, a member of the CGT-FTDNEEA labor union, to AFP.

They plan to go on strike in May, to be continued from July 1 to September 8, 2024. If this plan is implemented, the millions of people who will come to Paris during the Olympics will find the city in the same state as it was in March 2023. At that time, sanitation workers went on strike for three weeks in response to pension policy reforms implemented by President Emmanuel Macron.

Terrifying! There are rats and mice.

As a result of the strike, more than 10,000 tons of rubbish piled up on the streets of Paris. Everywhere you can see tall, foul-smelling piles of rubbish. The May 13, 2023 edition of Forbes magazine called the city of light a city of trash.

Romain Gaia, a pastry chef in Paris, said that the amount of rubbish that officers did not pick up attracted many "guests". "Terrifying! "There are mice and rats," he said.

AFP/DIMITAR DILKOFF

Cars cross a street near the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, on February 2, 2024.

Brigitta Sesilya, an Indonesian citizen who is walking in Paris in March 2024, still finds the same views, especially in the outskirts of the city. "At main tourist spots such as the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum, the conditions are quite clean," he said.

Aside from garbage, unpleasant smells such as the odor of urine also disturb. The pungent smell emanates in metro stations and several public places. "The problem of the smell of urine and garbage is still something I encounter, from my first visit to Paris in early 2020 until now," said Sesilya.

Also read: After 100 Years, Can the Seine River Become a Swimming Arena?

Sarah Pakpahan, an Indonesian resident living in Marseille, who was contacted from Jakarta, also confirmed this. Although she lives far from Paris, she occasionally visits the city. According to Sarah, unpleasant odors are often smelled in parking areas because homeless people often urinate indiscriminately there.

Garbage is also often not collected during demonstrations. "In Paris, there are often protests. If people are not satisfied, they will demonstrate. If there is a demonstration, garbage will not be collected," he said.

AP PHOTO/AURELIEN MORISSARD

Residents use the pool near the Louvre Museum, Paris, France, to freshen up, Thursday (11/8/2022).

He mentioned waste and odor as the dark side of Paris. An online news portal, Medium, on September 3, 2023 revealed that alleys and small streets in Paris are very poorly lit, giving a spooky and unsafe impression.

Not to mention the many homeless people on the streets who force people for money and intimidate those who pass by. These facts blur people's image of the beauty and romanticism of Paris.

Also read: Remembering Paris Once Again

Despite all the dark sides of Paris, people from various parts of the world still flock to visit Paris. Especially for those who love to explore, they can find other charming corners beyond the main tourist spots in Paris.

Therefore, Sarah suggests that visitors remain vigilant while in Paris, lest their Parisian adventure fails to match the romanticized portrayals in films. (AFP/REUTERS)