One thing that has shocked me about France is the amount of security. Almost everywhere we go we have to go through a bag check. Sometimes this is just a security officer looking inside my bag but other times it is a full X-ray machine and metal detectors. It really is not that big of an inconvenience, as most of the time the line moves very fast.
I have also seen a lot of military patrols throughout the city. The first one I saw was at the airport after arriving. That one really freaked me out, I just never expected to see military personal walking around the airport in full combat clothes and huge guns. So at first, I was worried about what was going on. You just do not see patrols like that in America.
On Bastille Day, the security was insane around the Eiffel Tower. We saw probably a dozen swat vehicles parked out front full of police officers in riot gear. The military was also out heavy that day with there tanks and other vehicles talking to kids in the community.
I actually do not mind the amount of security in this city. I have felt super safe this whole trip. I also understand that with the higher risk of terrorism here the security is necessary. I wonder how the residents of Paris feel about this much security. I feel that things like military patrol would never be accepted in America, no matter how bad the risk of terrorism gets.
I think we see the military patrols as scary because when it happens in the U.S., that means something seriously wrong has happened. It makes me nervous here, but I constantly have to remind myself that I’m not in the U.S.