Okay, I admit it. I’m a little terrified of being in Paris all alone. I’ve read about the pickpockets on the métro and the scams along the Sacré Cœur. I’m scared of being a target–a single, overweight, middle-aged woman alone in a big, big city. I know enough not to dress like a tourist, and to look around me as I walk, but deep down inside my reptilian brain I’m afraid of having something happen over which I have no control. I have nightmares about falling and hitting my head on the pavement; I have actually fallen for no reason a few times (once on the streets of DC) and the experience isn’t pleasant. The thought of being incapacitated, for whatever reason, in a foreign country is simply petrifying. I know my fears are probably unfounded, but they keep nagging at the back of my head. I have a history of walking “tête en l’air,” too, which doesn’t add to my confidence. I’m scared of not finding a place to sit down if I get tired. I’m scared of getting totally lost in a questionable area of town. I’m scared of not having enough cash if my credit card is denied. I worry about not getting a chance to do all the things I want to do while I’m there. I worry about having a terrible meal in a city of fabulous restaurants. I worry about planning too much, or not planning enough.
The die is cast, however. Les jeux sont faits. I leave for Paris in about seven weeks — school gets out June 13th, and I’ll have the time between then and the 24th to fine-tune my strategies. A little judicious concern will keep me safe, but fretting too much is not conducive to maximizing my trip experience. I need to find that delicate balance between abject terror and blind self-assurance. With any luck, I should be just fine.
Don’t let pickpockets put you off! Sounds like you’re clued in anyway and that’s all you need. Paris is wonderful with company but alone can be even more special – enjoy!