Looks like the French may not be flocking to Charm City anytime soon. Seems Baltimore's not really a safe destination, at least as far as the French foreign ministry is concerned.
Just as our state department warns about Americans traveling to certain places (it suggests avoiding North Korea, for example), the French are urged to exercise caution in certain U.S. locales. And what do the French say about Baltimore?
"Considered a dangerous city except Downtown."
But don't feel too bad; few American cities fared that much better. In Washington, for instance, French tourists are advised to avoid Northeast and Southeast, Union Station at night and Anacostia anytime. In New York, one should be wary in Times Square and at the Statue of Liberty, and avoid Harlem, the Bronx and Central Park at night. As for poor Richmond, "Do not visit the city on foot."
No word on what Parisians should be looking out for in Annapolis, Towson. Bel Air or Ellicott City.
(A tip of the cap to the Washington Post's GovBeat blog, which first alerted us to Baltimore's poor showing. You can read the original post here.)