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A
Dog's Life...
In a search for cleaner sidewalks an expat looks at pampered
Parisian pooches
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Read this message from the Paris
Tempo Team
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Prostitution: The Clients' View
Paris isn’t exactly a destination for
sex tourism, but that doesn’t mean that visitors refrain from
frequenting the red light districts of Pigale and the rue St. Denis.
On the contrary, for a few, a visit to Paris wouldn’t be complete
without meeting the ladies.
"If you walk down this street, there are hundreds of women,
even in the middle of the afternoon. Many girls are overweight,
some are downright ugly, but there are also lots of 9's and 10's
to pick from...though it helps if you know a little French, because
I found many girls don't speak English," said one visitor to
the rue St. Denis.
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For anyone unfamiliar with the stretch of the
block between the touristic Pompidou center and the arch at Strasbourg-St.
Denis, it is the workplace for one of the densest concentrations
of prostitutes in Paris. Though it is a bustling part of the garment
district during the day, in the evening the pros take over completely.
Beginning in the late afternoon and continuing until the wee hours,
scantily clad women line the street.
The women loiter on the sidewalks or in doorways and they make no
pretense of being there for any purpose other than business. A man
will get a greeting if his gaze hesitates too long, but there is
no high pressure. And if you speak a bit of French you can enjoy
the repartee between courtesan and customer, but not knowing the
language is no barrier to business.
"They all get BIG points for turning themselves out the best
they can - and for having a great attitude. No hassle, no hustle,
always ladies. A big contrast to US girls," explained another
"John."
The legal status of prostitution in France often seems a bit grey.
While procuring and/or running an organized brothel is illegal,
prostitutes have been typically tolerated and areas like the rue
St. Denis are practially institutions in their own right. In fact,
the reputation of places like the rue St. Denis and Pigalle attract
tourists who come just to gawk.
"I got a big kick out of seeing the girls decked out in slinky
evening wear at 9 AM! I almost lost it when I saw one girl working
with her dog. Most of the girls are gravitationally enhanced and
chronologically gifted (old & fat for you non-PC types). But,
there were a couple of OK lookers," said one tourist.
Understanding the Issue:
Prostitution: The
Debate
Prostitution: How
the Working Girls' See Things
Prostitution: The
Traffickers
Prostitution: Busting
the Traffic
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