Languish.org

High speed trains are still running from Amsterdam to Paris. Travellers in Amsterdam are being interviewed about their reasons for going or cancelling their trip.
The foreign tourists seem to be changing their destination or staying in Amsterdam, mostly out of respect, a few out of fear.
The Dutch tourists are mostly their Calvinist selves, insisting on having a right to have fun because they paid for it (ignoring the fact that they can probably get a refund).

One Dutch woman said she'd go straight to Euro Disney and didn't deserve to see anything along the way that might disturb her. The reporter said afterwards he 'forgot' to tell her Euro Disney is closed today.  :lol:

I'd go for sure.  It is tough to coordinate holidays, gigantic problems with cancelling airfares and hotels etc.  My real worry is that the restaurants and tourist spots will be closed.  Otherwise the tough security is a blessing.  On the plus side, the places that are open will be less crowded. 

I think I'd stay home. There'll be another time to visit Paris so no reason to force a visit when the population is in grief and the museums are closed.

There has been a train derailment with a number of deaths :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34822666

Probably a coincidence.

No I wouldn't visit Paris right now. My French is terrible and having a monoglot bumbling about would not be helpful.

Actually, I think this is the best time to go to Paris.  When everybody bails, there will be good airfare and hotel deals. 

Of course. It's probably the safest time to go right now

.

Well it would be a bit silly to do it today or in the next few days, not because of the security situation there, no real chance of death or injury, but because most people can't just drop everything and dash to Paris.

A better jesture would be to plan a winter or early spring break and put some extra euros into the tills of the small Parisian business affect by this assult on civilization.

Quote from: mongers on November 14, 2015, 11:05:06 AM
Well it would be a bit silly to do it today or in the next few days, not because of the security situation there, no real chance of death or injury, but because most people can't just drop everything and dash to Paris.

A better jesture would be to plan a winter or early spring break and put some extra euros into the tills of the small Parisian business affect by this assult on civilization.

The assumption is you have already booked a trip, leaving today  :)

Quote from: Maladict on November 14, 2015, 11:06:48 AM

Quote from: mongers on November 14, 2015, 11:05:06 AM
Well it would be a bit silly to do it today or in the next few days, not because of the security situation there, no real chance of death or injury, but because most people can't just drop everything and dash to Paris.

A better jesture would be to plan a winter or early spring break and put some extra euros into the tills of the small Parisian business affect by this assult on civilization.

The assumption is you have already booked a trip, leaving today  :)

OK I assumed wrong, didn't read the whole OP :blush:

Most touristic attractions will be closed this week-end so I do not think it's a good idea anyways, security and moral concerns aside.

No option for me since I am already in Paris, and Jaron option does not apply as well.

I would still go, because not going would be the wrong signal. I would make sure to be respectful (not go out of my way to gawk at the attack sites, pestering people about it etc.), though.

I would probably delay my trip a bit.

It depends why I was going. If it was to wander around awesome museums in a beautiful city, I probably wouldn't just because I understand they will be closed. Otherwise, I would go. Not sure how not spending my dollars there helps the people of Paris, and I don't think spending a day in a museum is in any way disrespectful.

I would not go.  Everything is closed and Parisians are dealing with a disaster.  The last thing they need at the moment are tourists.  I would reschedule.

Quote from: crazy canuck on November 14, 2015, 12:22:36 PM
I would not go.  Everything is closed and Parisians are dealing with a disaster.  The last thing they need at the moment are tourists.  I would reschedule.

I saw an interview touching on the impact of 9/11 on tourist heavy NYC sectors such as theater, and it was quite devastating--some people likely need tourists to keep their livelihood.

Everything being closed is of course a serious obstacle to being a tourist and spending money.

Yes. I have some friends I would like to visit and hear what they have to say and maybe comfort them a bit.

If I was significantly younger and knew for a fact IS was going to be attacked by the French Army, joining the Legion would be a non-zero possibility. There are very few people in the world who just need killing but those guys do.

Strangely enough I've never had any desire to go to Paris anyway, though I'd love to visit Normandy and the French Riviera.

I don't know if I would go to Paris *today* - what with border closings and police still trying to figure out what happened... but I would totally visit in a week or month from now.

My one and only visit to New York was two months after 9/11.  They were actively encouraging people to come and visit, and there were deals to be had.  And while most of my visit was doing typically "touristy" things, what I'll always remember was the aftermath of 9/11.  Flags everywhere, elaborate shrines in front of fire stations... and then when you went to lower manhattan, how dusty and dirty it still was.  And then there was ground zero.  I think later on there were more involved viewing stations, but at that time there were fairly crude barriers with a viewing station.  There was still almost all of the rubble, including a several-stories high cladding from one of the towers.  It was powerful stuff and I'll never forget it.  -_-

Quote from: Maladict on November 14, 2015, 10:39:44 AM

High speed trains are still running from Amsterdam to Paris. Travellers in Amsterdam are being interviewed about their reasons for going or cancelling their trip.
The foreign tourists seem to be changing their destination or staying in Amsterdam, mostly out of respect, a few out of fear.
The Dutch tourists are mostly their Calvinist selves, insisting on having a right to have fun because they paid for it (ignoring the fact that they can probably get a refund).

One Dutch woman said she'd go straight to Euro Disney and didn't deserve to see anything along the way that might disturb her. The reporter said afterwards he 'forgot' to tell her Euro Disney is closed today.  :lol:

If they closed their borders, how are we supposed to get in?

Anyway, if I had plans, and if they were letting me in, I would go.  If the French government said something like "we appreciate your visit, but right now, please stay clear of Paris, wait for another week until we lift the state of emergency", than I would try to move my trip.

Quote from: Caliga on November 14, 2015, 05:51:23 PM
Strangely enough I've never had any desire to go to Paris anyway, though I'd love to visit Normandy and the French Riviera.

The Museums are kick ass. There are some pretty amazing archaeological sites as well. I know you are not really a big city guy but it is pretty cool to visit once.

Quote from: Caliga on November 14, 2015, 05:51:23 PM
Strangely enough I've never had any desire to go to Paris anyway, though I'd love to visit Normandy and the French Riviera.

The museums are extremely impressive.  Paris itself is beatiful.  I took a Segway tour in the streets and it was fantastic. 

Excellent food everywhere.  Not just the fine dining restaurants, but lots of cake shops and food places that sell really good food. 

Also lots of shopping opportunities. 

The worst part is they treat you like crap as soon as you start talking in English  :lol:

I'd definitely go.

Hells yeah...recent history shows that tackling terrorists gets you a double promotion in the Air Force.

Serious answer: If I were already inclined to go to Paris...yes I would go, but only probably after an appropriate buffer of time.  General threat/fear would not be any kind of impediment.

Yeah, maybe wait a week.

I suppose it would depend on many circumstances. If I lived in Hong Kong and this was my annual scheduled vacation, I would probably not postpone it. If I lived in Brussels and it was just a weekend trip, I would.

Quote from: Barrister on November 14, 2015, 05:57:35 PM
I don't know if I would go to Paris *today* - what with border closings and police still trying to figure out what happened... but I would totally visit in a week or month from now.

My one and only visit to New York was two months after 9/11.  They were actively encouraging people to come and visit, and there were deals to be had.  And while most of my visit was doing typically "touristy" things, what I'll always remember was the aftermath of 9/11.  Flags everywhere, elaborate shrines in front of fire stations... and then when you went to lower manhattan, how dusty and dirty it still was.  And then there was ground zero.  I think later on there were more involved viewing stations, but at that time there were fairly crude barriers with a viewing station.  There was still almost all of the rubble, including a several-stories high cladding from one of the towers.  It was powerful stuff and I'll never forget it.  -_-

Do you also go to random strangers' funerals?  :hmm:

I think going somewhere that will clearly have/has had a large impact on a nation's psyche is rather different from a random stranger's funeral.

Today we got the dictate from corporate not to travel to France (for business) without senior management approval.  It's different working for a French company, at GE we would have gotten that on Saturday rather than waiting for Monday morning.  It's a good thing the terrorists didn't attack in August, we'd have to wait a month.   

;)

As to the question at hand, I'd do my best to postpone my trip until the state of emergency had been lifted.  De Gaulle Airport is awful without a state of emergency; I can't imagine what it's like today.

I don't have any plans to, but I'd have no problem being in Paris the night of the attacks even as bad as they were your % odds of being killed in them is very, very, very low, even if you were in Paris.

If I could afford it I would. The timing would only depend on if Duque will be available to be my guide again or not. ;)