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Paris attacks: City is numb as terrorism casts shadow over tourism | |
(34 minutes later) | |
Stepping off a bus at the Arc De Triomphe on Saturday night felt more like Belfast in the 1970s than Paris in the 21st Century. | Stepping off a bus at the Arc De Triomphe on Saturday night felt more like Belfast in the 1970s than Paris in the 21st Century. |
On one corner was a large group of armed police officers, on the other was a squad of young soldiers. | On one corner was a large group of armed police officers, on the other was a squad of young soldiers. |
There was a khaki-green army pick-up truck beside them, looking totally out of place in a part of Paris associated with tourism rather than terrorism. | There was a khaki-green army pick-up truck beside them, looking totally out of place in a part of Paris associated with tourism rather than terrorism. |
A walk down the nearby Avenue des Champs-Élysée was eerie. | A walk down the nearby Avenue des Champs-Élysée was eerie. |
The normally bustling boulevard was near-deserted. The city felt numb. | The normally bustling boulevard was near-deserted. The city felt numb. |
It looked like Saturday evening in central Belfast 40 years ago. Empty streets. Shutters down. | It looked like Saturday evening in central Belfast 40 years ago. Empty streets. Shutters down. |
On side streets, there were more signs of life. Some people did still want to go out and socialise, just not in the most obvious places. | On side streets, there were more signs of life. Some people did still want to go out and socialise, just not in the most obvious places. |
It was a night when people wanted to keep their heads down. | It was a night when people wanted to keep their heads down. |
Indeed, that was the official advice from the authorities with citizens urged to stay indoors with France entering a state of emergency. | Indeed, that was the official advice from the authorities with citizens urged to stay indoors with France entering a state of emergency. |
In Paris, it seemed everyone had a story to tell, a direct or indirect account of Friday night's sudden attacks. | In Paris, it seemed everyone had a story to tell, a direct or indirect account of Friday night's sudden attacks. |
For young people, social media is usually a vehicle for gossip and humour, but for young Parisians it's now being used for hospital updates and sympathy messages. | For young people, social media is usually a vehicle for gossip and humour, but for young Parisians it's now being used for hospital updates and sympathy messages. |
A French woman I sat beside on a plane from Dublin to Paris, turned on her phone when we landed at Charles De Gaulle Airport only to find out on Facebook that a friend had died. | A French woman I sat beside on a plane from Dublin to Paris, turned on her phone when we landed at Charles De Gaulle Airport only to find out on Facebook that a friend had died. |
Some airlines are offering passengers refunds if they don't want to go to Paris. | Some airlines are offering passengers refunds if they don't want to go to Paris. |
Disneyland Paris is closed for three days and some families due to leave Dublin for Disney decided not to go. | Disneyland Paris is closed for three days and some families due to leave Dublin for Disney decided not to go. |
Hotels in Paris are doing their best to make life easier for tourists and business workers still staying in the city. | Hotels in Paris are doing their best to make life easier for tourists and business workers still staying in the city. |
'Mass killings' | 'Mass killings' |
Some hotels are putting on free food and refreshments for guests who are reluctant to venture outside. | Some hotels are putting on free food and refreshments for guests who are reluctant to venture outside. |
At the same time, those wishing to leave early are not having to pay cancellation fees. | At the same time, those wishing to leave early are not having to pay cancellation fees. |
Paris wants people to stay. But if they go, the city wants them to come back soon. | Paris wants people to stay. But if they go, the city wants them to come back soon. |
Just like London and New York in the wake of mass killings in recent years, Paris will try to slowly recover. | Just like London and New York in the wake of mass killings in recent years, Paris will try to slowly recover. |
The city's Latin motto is: Fluctuat nec mergitur. The translation is 'tossed by the water but not sunk'. | The city's Latin motto is: Fluctuat nec mergitur. The translation is 'tossed by the water but not sunk'. |
Already this weekend, you can see the phrase being scrawled on walls. | Already this weekend, you can see the phrase being scrawled on walls. |
Yes, Latin graffiti. | Yes, Latin graffiti. |
Paris is still Paris. | Paris is still Paris. |
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