gap Paris

I wondered if the gay environment in Marais would alienate a family of 5?

Does anyone have any experience with the Marais area of Paris?

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That is really a silly question. The Marais is a very diverse area. There is more of a Jewish presence that is noticeable than a gay presence. Would that alienate you?

Go to the Marais. Enjoy it. Visit Rue des Rosiers, the Picasso Museum, the Carnavalet.

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Get a grip. The Marais isn%26#39;t some %26#39;..drag show..%26#39;. It%26#39;s an interesting, active, diverse, vibrant community. That it has developped a reputation for being G/L/B-friendly just means that there may be a greater number of G/L/B there...but you may be shocked to find that they look, act and speak just like everyone else (unless you detect the secret sign and handshake you can scarcely detect the tell-tale signs of tails, horns and cloven hooves and know just where to look). Be more afraid of some tourist shouting across a restaurant dining room at a waiter, %26quot;...Where%26#39;s the butter for the bread?...and while you%26#39;re at it, can we get some ketchup?..%26quot;.

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Ooh you two are harsh! - the silliness of a question is in the eye of the beholder, nor do I read it as blatant homophobia but I guess we all have our %26#39;hot buttons%26#39; - many a time I%26#39;ve wanted to reply %26quot;Get a grip%26quot; to the umpteenth thread about wearing jeans in Paris ;-)

Tunder - the Marais is indeed a lively area, especially nice for wandering through on a Sunday when the shops are open, it is home to both the Jewish quarter and the %26#39;gay district%26#39;. However the latter mainly consists of bars / restaurants displaying the rainbow flag and there is no feeling of encroaching on anyone%26#39;s territory. The %26#39;gayness%26#39; consists simply of the aforementioned bars and a higher percentage of all male couples.

As a hetero female I%26#39;ve never been made to feel unwelcome in the %26quot;gay%26quot; bars. And there%26#39;s nothing on display that you wouldn%26#39;t want to have to explain to your kids ;-)

Areas you might want to avoid travelling with your family are rather the top end of rue St. Denis and the stretches either side of the Moulin Rouge which are full of s-e-x shops and you may feel uncomfortable walking past.

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We spend most of our Sundays in the Marais, with our two children and it is never an issue.