I've not seen this myself, as I usually approach Sacre Coeur from the steps on the other side. It reminds me of the shoe shine boys of Istanbul who ask to shine your shoes. Keep on walking. But if you don't stop for them, at one time or the other, they will start walking in front of you and drop a shoe brush which they know you will stop and pick up and return to them. Then they just start shining your shoes, no questions asked.
My friend did this and then they asked for money, I couldn't say it was really a demand for money. He had a small coin and gave it to the guy, and said, that's all you get, take it or leave it. The guy took it and moved along. I could just never. And brave of you to photograph it. This will be the first time in almost a decade for the U. Open to return to New York. Police were alerted but did absolutely nothing. These people who scam tourists and manhandle women and children are scum.
Shame on the French authorities for allowing this to continue unabated every day. Yes, this is true. It happened to me yesterday. I think I was an easy target as I was traveling solo and only Indian arround. These guys told me it's a tradition for church, once they tied the thread they started demanding money. They told, I said I had no change , they said they will give back change.
Once they got my chf they just pushed me off and asked me to leave, as I protested they threatened to call police on me and started pushing me arround. Was crazy I just left. Did not want to fight those guys. I am from India, scams are everywhere but it's not this public over there. As a middleaged solo woman traveller I find "walking with purpose" has helped me avoid most scam type encounters. I don't stop and talk to strangers at home, so I don't do it in a foriegn city either.
When I did SC I walked up the stairs with purpose and didn't slow down,, a few young men did call out to me, but I just kept up my pace and eyes forward and really had no problems. Great investigative journalism! After reading all the alarmist threads on tripadvisor forums warning about the bracelet guys it is nice to know that they really aren't that much of a bother if you are walking with a purpose.
