Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations and it is considered one of the most romantic cities in the world. I visited Paris this year, during the low season, and have decided to share with you what I liked and didn’t like about traveling to Paris while being autistic.
In this Article
The food
Food in Paris is a tricky subject if you are neurodivergent or have food sensitivities. The good part is that breakfast and lunch can be very easy and tasty. You can have baguettes and crepes, whether savory or sweet. You can find little cafes with beautiful pastries. You can also ask for freshly baked quiches (with just eggs, ham and cheese) , no funny business there. There are also fresh paninis, pasta and salads.
If you like sodas, you will find that Coke products are sold everywhere. I don’t drink them as much anymore, but I was craving something familiar and Coke felt like happiness in a can.
Dinner, on the other hand, was a bit tricky. The first two days, I could not find one thing to eat for dinner. My boyfriend (who is neurotypical) had the time of his life. He ate snails, onion soup, raw meat and other things that did not look appetizing at all.
On my second night in Paris, I saw broiled chicken and mashed potatoes on the menu for Bistrot des Victoires. I gave a huge sigh of relief. Finally something edible. My motto was “you can never go wrong with chicken but”, boy was I wrong.
They served a bowl of unsavory/ unseasoned mashed potatoes sitting in chicken broth. On top of it, chicken that looked undercooked, with the whitest slimiest skin I have ever seen. Worst of all, it had no seasoning at all. Which was weird considering the broth was really good.
I honestly ended up crying that night. Why is it so hard is it to find some decent chicken anywhere?
Paris does have pizza (my safe food). However they don’t have a design-your-own pizza where you choose the toppings or sauce. They have specific made pizzas that have egg, fish and other weird toppings. Even the simple margarita was edible but not good.
The only time I was able to eat something without having to actually look at it, was when we found out a Five Guys across from Moulin Rouge, believe it or not. The only time we ate fast food in our 12-day trip. But, I was desperate already and needed something comfortable.
Transportation
Do not dream of visiting Paris on foot. It is a large city. The center is more than 18 miles wide and all the attractions are scattered across it. You should get a train card. There are automatic machines where you can get and recharge your cards so you don’t have to talk to anyone. Also, they have very specific signs, with the names of the stops and routes, directing you where to go to get on the train you want. They also have a screen telling you how long it will take for the train to arrive.
As a note, I don’t remember seeing wheelchair accessible entrances in the stations I used. Please check this before traveling.
Crowds
There WILL be lots of crows everywhere. I visited during low season and it was crowded everywhere. Do carry your noise canceling headphones or foam earplugs with you. It is very nice though to see so many people from different cultures in one place. It was very comforting to listen to people speak in my native tongue just walking by.
The train in the afternoons gets impossibly crowded. To the point where people are smooshed together, so avoid the train during peak hours. Another reason to avoid the train at this hour is that this is the time pickpockets chose to steal. Which leads me to the next topic.
Safety
BE AWARE OF SCAMMERS AND PICKPOCKETS
I was a victim of pickpocketing. It does happen. The train was so full I literally couldn’t move. I was holding my purse because of pickpockets, and left my phone (a Samsung A series, nothing fancy) in my coat pocket. A pocket that was so deep it could easily hold a bottle of water. Yet, one stop later, ONE, my phone wasn’t in my pocket. I didn’t think they would go for a phone but they did. Carry everything in a closed purse or bag that is in front of you. Preferably under your coat.
When you go to the Eiffel Tower you will see crowds of people, usually women, asking for signatures. DONT SIGN. They are scammers. They ask if you speak English and if you say yes, they forcefully shove a piece of paper in front of you and order you to sign. From what I read online, after you sign, they will pester you for a donation. And if you take out your purse to give them a dollar, just to get them off you, they’ll steal from your open purse. So, just ignore them, or be mean if you have to, but DON’T SIGN.
Getting Help
Parisians have a fame for being rude and dry. They will look at you with disdain if you don’t speak their language and won’t even try to speak in English. From my experience, I can say this is totally false. I met very pleasant people in Paris. When I was in the train stations I was stopped a couple of times by people who noticed I was lost. They guided me where I needed to go and left. THEY STOPPED ME to help me. I was in awe.
In every shop and restaurant we went to we were treated with respect and kindness, and everyone spoke English. I mean, I really wanted to practice my rusty french, but I wasn’t given the chance.
Summary / TL;DR
Paris can be a fantastic place if you prepare accordingly. Be mindful of the crowds you’ll find. You will probably have little personal space and will end up in physical contact with strangers, especially on the train. Also, people
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