France remains the world’s most visited country, yet a wave of violent unrest has left some tourists sheltering in place rather than exploring its cities.
Ashley Wynn, an American model and influencer, had been excited about visiting the City of Love. Instead, a frightening journey and escalating disorder have kept her largely confined to the Paris neighborhood where she rented accommodation.
Wynn, who is from Tampa, was traveling from Barcelona to Paris on Friday when her train came to an unexpected stop for several hours. The service later began moving backward after vandals allegedly cut the railway lines, she told the Daily Mail.
The 35-year-old and her fellow passengers remained stranded for roughly three hours before the train suddenly changed direction.
“We noticed that we had gone backwards for about 30 minutes after that, and then we started going forwards again,” Wynn said. Passengers were then told over the train’s speaker system that an act of vandalism had cut the lines and forced the service onto another track.
The situation became even more alarming when, according to Wynn, the suspected vandals also attempted to access the train’s operating system.
“It could have caused a collision with another train, it could have caused us to derail,” she said. “It was an act of very serious danger towards people.”
Wynn acknowledged that the alleged aim may have been to disrupt government systems and pressure authorities, but said passengers were placed at unacceptable risk. “Causing a situation where we’re now collateral, and we’re in danger, and essentially could be put in a situation where we’re now on a runaway train, was very intense,” she said.
American model and influencer Ashley Wynn had hoped to explore the City of Love, but a terrifying train journey and unrest have left her confined to the Paris neighborhood where she is staying
Protests have spread across major French cities as demonstrators voice anger over the cost of living, President Emmanuel Macron’s government and education standards
Wynn said she immediately panicked. As an American, she said, her first thought was that the incident might have been an act of terrorism.
Passengers worked together to gather information about the conditions awaiting them in Paris. The train eventually arrived around 3 a.m. Saturday, after which travelers were taken by taxi to their final destinations.
Since reaching France, however, Wynn has been unable to experience the trip she planned as unrest continues to raise safety concerns.
Demonstrations have erupted in major cities nationwide, with protesters objecting to the rising cost of living, President Emmanuel Macron’s government and the quality of education available to students.
Amid the protests, some people have also looted stores, damaged businesses and created dangerous conditions for residents and visitors.
Wynn had planned to visit the renowned Louvre Museum on Monday, but instead remained in Batignolles, a neighborhood in northern Paris.
“I thought I could go to a museum, and I saw a video on TikTok that they have barricaded the Louvre,” Wynn said. “That’s happening this morning, on a Monday morning, so it has not calmed down.”
She continued: “Given that I am in the Batignolles neighborhood, I cannot leave this neighborhood. After everything that happened on the train, things just got worse for the whole town. The 17th was incredibly dangerous.”
Wynn told the Daily Mail that her trip to Paris was derailed Friday when vandals allegedly cut railway lines and attempted to hack the train system
Wynn said she brought her trip forward by one day after learning that demonstrations had been scheduled in the area for Saturday.
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As non-violent protestors entered the village, Wynn said she could hear the chaos downtown.
‘There was smoke, clouds, there was noise, there were constant sirens all day. And then yesterday, it was about half of that, but it was still too active to go out,’ she stated.
Wynn sent an urgent warning to anyone who might have a trip to France coming up.
‘You can’t have a vacation here right now… I wouldn’t wish that on anybody. I support the issues that they have so far, such as the cost of living and the quality of schools, like America’s having the same issues, but I don’t support the violence. I don’t support using people as collateral. I don’t support them destroying local stores. That’s not a means to an end.’
Although she can’t venture out like she hoped she could, Wynn said she is just grateful that she is safe, and hopes that the chaos settles soon.
‘I wanted to see certain landmarks and museums and do some early holiday shopping in places that are only unique to Paris, but I am making the most of getting to live as a local in this neighborhood.
Riot police responding to the civil unrest on Sunday, a day after a national day of demonstrations in France
‘It feels inappropriate as an influencer and model to post tourist and aspirational vacation images during a time in the city, and its people are reeling through a hard time.’
After raiding name-brand shops and local businesses, looters have gone on to list the stolen items on the resale website Vinted. The adverts also make it clear that the items were snatched during the riots.
France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted on Monday that police ‘lost control’ in some cities during violent protests.
A curfew has since been enforced from 8pm to 4am (GMT) in Paris on Place de la République and in the streets around Les Halles.
The Paris police prefecture said the partial curfew would be in effect in several other neighbourhoods of the French capital.
Elsewhere, curfews are in place in the cities of Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain in northern France.
Wynn had planned to go to the famous Louvre Museum, but protestors descended on the landmark on Monday morning
A woman looks on at two charred cars that were flamed on Saturday during demonstraions
Several governments, including America, have warned their residents to avoid France as the unrest continues.
Italy, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Nordic nations have done the same.
Italy advised its citizens to register their presence in France on a website so they can be located, while other countries warned against visiting areas where demonstrations are taking place.
The US State Department has issued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory because of the chaos.