Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.This week the streets of Paris will fill with returning Parisians who deserted their city during August. That doesn’t mean it was empty over the past few weeks: quite the contrary. Tourists still came in their droves – not surprisingly, as this summer France was again named the world’s most-visited country.
And where there were tourists, there were those waiting to fleece them. The Pont des Arts, already groaning with the weight of padlocks, was busy with girls with clipboards. They’ve been around for years, getting you to sign a petition while their accomplices swarm around you. Nowadays they pretend to be deaf-mute and just wave at you to get your attention.
I responded with a pantomime wave and a derisive grin, and they took the hint. I overheard an American saying: “I was only trying to be polite. And then she wanted money.” A bit of rudeness wouldn’t go amiss, especially in Paris, I wanted to tell her.
At the foot of Sacré Coeur, I prepared to walk up the sweeping stairs. A group of men tried to block my way. “We have a tradition here. You have to tie this string around your wrist,” they said.
This was a new trick to me, but a firm “Non, merci” was all it took to avoid getting tied up in string.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments