Paris - no place for a "yawning"

How to avoid becoming a" victim of circumstances in the capital of France?

"Kidalovka" by Parisian?
sunny May afternoon on the island of Sita, forgetting everything, I filmed the chimeras of Notre Dame.
From slow down the machine I called out softly in French. I responded well memorized phrases from the phrase: "Sorry, I do not understand." Stranger (much later I realized that it was an Italian) at once moved in broken Russian and joyfully zalopotal that he had just been in Moscow, fascinated by Russian girls, St. Basil's Cathedral, and so on. I listened out of courtesy. He did not take my eyes off my expensive camcorder.
- Let me make you a present! - Suddenly he exclaimed, and handed me through the car window a bulky package with something yellow, leather and fur. - It costs a thousand dollars. No less! By Valentino. I am a representative of this company in Paris. Was a week ago at an exhibition in Moscow. Have you heard?
I started to refuse the gift and tried to shove a hefty packet back into the car through the window. It's amazing - a package not climb!
- You offend me to the depths! Only I have a small request. I need to get there (he named a city, which I did not know). Could you give me the gasoline francs thirty - fifty? It's just five or ten dollars.
Thirty francs - two coins. I got a trifle out of his pocket.
- No, no! Need a piece of paper. There are gas stations do not like small coins ...
Perhaps, in this precarious situation, and absurdities, I proved to be a complete idiot. But I pulled out his wallet. There were about six hundred francs - about $ 100.
Lightning motion, he snatched my wallet and gave by gas and sped away. Number of the car was smeared with mud, so I do not remember a single figure.
What was in the package? There were two quite fashionable jacket leatherette from "Falentino" (not "Valentino") about my size. Total value of U.S. $ 30 and I absolutely do not need. The hotel I learned that a similar Italian on the same day "shod" another member of our group, but at $ 150. A "fault" was too expensive video camera in hand ...

camcorder as a source of trouble
One day after a chic dinner with wine and oysters us with a friend he brought hell on Saint-Denis. This is a street where the pavement walking lady almost in the same hats - and even without panties. As luck would have it at a friend's video camera was. She just hung on the shoulder, although there could be, and shoot: these shots for us is sheer exoticism.
Suddenly from nowhere appeared a crowd of Algerians. They immediately tore off the camera with a belt, pulled the film, stomped her, but we quickly slapped in the face. The police arrived immediately, especially if waiting around the corner. Oh, how interesting to have a replica police!
- Again, these Russian! Again they suffered at the Saint-Denis!
- No, no - we started to deny it. - It is pure coincidence. Went the shortest way to the hotel ...
Guardians of the order only meaningfully at each other, but we certainly do not believe it. We were taken to a police hospital in Orfevr embankment, where they washed abrasions, did X-rays, and decorated with "lights" optometrist examined her eyes.
As for their return home first French and then compared the Russian border guards our person with a photo in the documents - I will not tell. Barely missed ... So does our swollen faces would not be combined with the contours of photographs in their passports!
Most interesting thing started two weeks later. Over a 20-minute medical care in the police hospital, came from about 1200 dollars each. I took it to the insurance company that provided my "security" for the trip. Clerks long check sent medical records were seized insurance card, but paid for ...

What to do if ...
... you forgot the name of the hotel and the road to it
Use the nearest phone and call home or a travel agency that sent you, find out which hotel housed your group. Then go to any post office or travel agency and find out there address of the hotel. Get to it easily by taxi. If you do not want to use it, ask the taxi driver at a subway station the hotel is located. Taxi driver for this service have to pay 3 to 5 francs.
... You get lost in the city
Being in an unfamiliar part of town and lose orientation, go right, anywhere without displacing. Small street after 5-7 minutes will take you to the most: it will either street (rue), or the prospect (avenue), or boulevard (boulevard). For the great outdoors you can go in any direction. Maximum of half an hour later you are bound to find yourself near the metro station (denoted by subway - yellow letter M, encased in a circle), read her name and sorientiruetes scheme.
... You have lost your passport
report it to any police station. There you will be given the appropriate protocol. Based on this protocol and written statements Consulate can issue you a certificate of return - an identity document in the absence of a passport and be allowed entry into the Russian Federation. For its registration to two photos, as well as two witnesses who can confirm that you are - it's you. The cost of consular services - 300 francs.
... You lost a plane ticket
Contact the tourist or travel agency that issued your ticket and ask to send a fax to the airline's offices in Paris confirming the purchase of your ticket. As soon as confirmation comes, you write out a new ticket.
... You do not have enough money to pay
first advice: do not try to escape from a hotel or a restaurant without paying. In this case, the restaurant manager or hotel call the police, and you'll have trouble. Try to negotiate on the spot, offer to leave the security of valuables and bring a designated amount of the next day. If this is the hotel, phoned to the travel agency, book a room and ask them to take the guarantee of payment shortfall. Later you will return this sum agency.
... You run out of money
Use reliable and fast international money transfer system "Western Union" or "MoneyGram". Service Point "Western Union" is available in all major cities of the world.
How to do it:
- Call your relatives or friends and ask for money
- After send money to learn the sender for a transfer code;
- Appearing in the agency "Western Union" or "MoneyGram", your passport and calling the code, you get the money.
sender must know your passport number, date of birth and exact spelling your name in Latin letters. Room service - about 10% of the amount transferred.
... You French police detained
urgently inform the board the Russian consulate and call his agent. If your actions do not constitute a crime and the Consul will be able to explain it to the police authorities, you will immediately be released. Otherwise, within 48 hours you can produce your ad (arrest) and to begin an investigation. Under French law, it can carry four months (with right of renewal for another two months, a prosecutor of the republic).
Thank you for the information provided about the Paris of our partner - publisher "Wellcome" (St. Petersburg), which produces guides in Russian.