You can perceive Paris as a bird.
It’s a 105.2km^2 concrete block. The block is inhabited by 2.15ish millions two legged beings. Not a lot of green areas but a lot of baguette and croissants crumbs to pick up from cafés, bistros and bars.
You can perceive Paris as a tourist.
Paris is magical. The city filled with romance, love stories, literature and incredible art collections. It is so nice to sit on the terraces, even though they are so overpriced. It’s the holiday and at least they take card so there is no need to carry cash around.
You can perceive Paris as me, after 44 days in the city.
The people in the metro’s are not having fun, no one is smiling. There is not a lot of green but some of the few green spaces are nice. There’s a lot of buildings everywhere with loads of people. Terraces, bistros and bars form the heart of the city. People are a little more closed up than I’m used to but nice once you get through to them.
“Les Portes” and the suburbs of the city have nothing in common with international image of Paris. It’s a different world. Different ethnicities, different occupations and really different vibes.
Finding good housing is difficult. The city and its legislation is not favourable for expats and the paper work is a mess.
You can perceive Paris by interpreting what I’ve seen.
What holds the city together is the community feeling that is formed and sustained by bringing people together for lunch, coffee and dinner in cafés, bistros and bars. Without it the city would be nothing. It also incentives people to act as one, everyone reunites around the same times, which then also coincides with the times people get of work, eat, exercise etc. Parisians act as one big organism.
Liberté, égalité, fraternité makes sense cause the whole goal is to keep everyone moving as one. Legislations regarding housing and taxes also make sense favouring the community and sticking together over individuality or rich expats.
You can perceive Paris as a local.
Favouring everyone over individuals means that some have to suffer. Seems like the ones suffering right now are café/bar/restaurant owners. Everyone is paying by card and now taxes have to be declared. And taxes are high.
Parisians that dislike the city, dislike it for what is happening in the suburbs and “portes” areas. Since the situation in these areas has become worse as the number of crimes have increased, the opinions have gotten worse as well.
Young adults criticise the city a lot. Loads of them seem to want to leave or already left. Few are amazed by their city but they do exist.
You can perceive Paris as you.
What Paris is depends on how you perceive it.
Thanks for sharing the diverse perspective(s) of Paris. Many things appear totally different subject to the view point and and it’s angle towards the object.
Perception however is reality for the person, for the community that perceives! This fact often overlooked, ignored or even objected.
The idea (reality) of protecting the community even if it comes at the disadvantage for the individual appears to be an interesting (known to some of us) concept.
Thanks again HANI - enjoyed the reading !