#ecclesexperience

The 3rd district also feels very close to home for me because I am here about half the week in class. The district lies on the northern border of the 4th district and shares the same medieval “Le Marais” neighborhood that makes up most of the 4th district. The 3rd district also shares a more subdued version of the artisan culture that permeates through the 4th district.

The 3rd district has had a historically high population of Jews (similar to its neighbor, the 4th district) and as a result now, hosts the Jewish Art and History Museum of Paris. The 3rd district has a relatively diverse population, but not a large influx of immigrants, that I could tell. The overall class appears to be middle class, with a population made up of a majority of young, unmarried people.

What makes the 3rd district so sweet is that while it mirrors the liberal, progressive culture of the 4th district it is farther removed from the city center and thus has a slower pace than the 4th. Although the atmosphere is not technically more relaxing, the locals live in peace of swirls of tourists. Thus the 3rd district is a great place to go and observe Paris' young avant-garde culture, unspoiled by tourism.

Part of the fun of exploring the 3rd district is its medieval layout. The streets and buildings are very close together, you could almost call it a maze, and what is so fun about wandering around the labyrinth is that you discover new things around almost every corner. What I have enjoyed doing is going walking during my lunch break in class and trying to discover a new place to eat every day. If you put in the work to get to know the 3rd district, it can become a place where many memories are made.

District 3 info:

Population - 36,727 (73.4% native // 15.6% non-EU)

Food Prices - Milk (P/L) € 2.65 Eggs (P/12) € 2.48 Steak (P/Kg) € 28.76

Hotel - Hotel Jacques de Molay, 3 Stars, € 101 (night/double room)

My Favourite Place: This band was performing on the Fete de la Musique - they were located just south of the Place de la Republique and they were a riot to listen to

Tourist attraction: The Musée d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaïsme highlights the culture, art, and history of the Jews in Paris

Local business: This is me overjoyed by all the food available at the Marché des Enfants Rouges - a local market that hosts vendors that sell goodies from all over the world

Architecture: The Musée des Archives Nationales has plenty of mediaeval architecture

The 2nd district of Paris is one of the smallest districts in the city, and as a result, is often overlooked by tourists - but this is a blessing because the gems that the 2nd district has are more easily accessible to you!

As one of the historical centers of business and commerce in Paris, the 2nd district is home to the old Paris Bourse (stock exchange - it was moved to its current home, the Bourse de Commerce, in 1889), the majority of the old Parisian covered passages, as well as many of the old gentlemen's clubs that the old Bourgeoisie were a part of in the 19th and 20th century.

Currently, the 2nd district maintains a relatively diverse population in relation to other Parisian districts. Almost 20 percent of the population are non-EU immigrants, but due to it's close location to the city centre, the 2nd district maintains a relatively strong Parisian identity. One of the shining aspects of the 2nd district is its many open markets that provide a unique selection of ethnic foods and ingredients as well as many artisanal French classics. Some of the best Middle-Eastern or Italian food you can get in Paris you will find at these markets and will be pleased with the cheap street prices.

Exploring the covered passages can provide similar pleasure to shoppers looking for unique, artisan goods that can only be described as "Portland-esc". Thanks to the young, specialty shopkeepers in the covered passages you will be able to find almost anything you might want, albeit you are in the market for antiques, artisan goods, or diverse textiles.

Take a stroll through the 2nd district, thanks to its small size it won't take you long to see the whole district. And who knows? You may just discover one of those treasures that Paris is famed to hold.

District 2 info:

Population - 22,558 (71.4% native // 17.9% non-EU)

Food Prices - Milk (P/L) € 1.44 Eggs (P/12) € 3.79 Steak (P/Kg) € 34.30

Hotel - Hotel Baby, 2 Stars, € 76 (night/double room)

My Favourite Place: This is a video I took from inside Club Rex on the Fete de la Musique - It is a classic European electro dance club

Tourist attraction: This is one of the old city gates of Paris 

Local business: Rue Montorgueil is a street full of businesses - it is the “centre de commerce” for the 2nd district - all of the local bakeries, meat shops, cheese shops, and wine shops are located on this street

Architecture: The covered passages in the 2nd district trace their origins back to pre-French Revolution history - they were the centers of commerce before the apartment stores came into existence

The 14th district carries a rich history of art, literature, and culture that is still visible today to those that visit it. Formerly known as the "Montparnasse District", the 14th district acted as a center for art and literature throughout the 20th century. It is also home to a large population of the people of Breton, an ethnic community of the french population that traces its roots back through the middle ages to Brittany. On top of this history, the 14th district is also a commercial hub for Paris housing many corporations, media outlets, as well as the small businesses that you see throughout the entire city.

I had the opportunity to spend an extended amount of time in this section of the city because it is where I first stayed when I came to Paris in May. The effective integration of greenery into the district planning helped to curb the intimidation I felt about living in a new country. I also was impressed by the easygoing atmosphere of the district, while the 14th does house many businesses I got the sense from those that lived here an overwhelming feeling of peace and satisfaction in life. While it may sound odd, my observations were that the people that live in the 14th district are living a very high quality of life. Thanks to the successful economy and well-placed parks and infrastructure, it makes sense to me how the Parisians of the 14th district can feel so satisfied with their life.

Again, the 14th district does hold some hot tourist destinations, but it doesn't let this ruin its good vibes. Anyone looking for an area to explore, see happy people, and enjoy very good and relatively well priced (non-tourist inflated prices) food owes it to themselves to come explore the 14th district.

District 14 info:

Population - 142,535 (78.4% native Parisian // 11.5% non-EU)

Food Prices - Milk (P/L) € 1.47 Eggs (P/12) € 2.15 Steak (P/Kg) € 27.63

Hotel - Hotel du Midi , 3 Stars, € 84 (night/double room)

My favorite place :This is the Denfert-Rochereau metro station - the first time I came to Paris I came through this station, so I fondly view it as my gateway to this city

Tourist attraction: The main entrance to the catacombs is located in the 14th district - as you can tell, the thought of dead people thrills me

Local business: This is a cool seafood restaurant that I found in the 14th district - back behind the men in aprons are the customers that order their food and have it cooked fresh before them

Architecture: This is the main roundabout in the 14th district, classic Haussmann-style buildings with large boulevards

The 13th district of Paris is amazing, it is indeed one of my favorite spots in Paris and a place that all visitors to Paris should spend some time in before they leave. Thanks to the national library, a modern commercial and entertainment building initiative that is growing around the library, and a diverse community of Asian immigrants, the 13th district glows as one of the premier districts in Paris.

Located on the west bank of the Seine and on the southern most side of the city, the 13th district plays the part of a bridge from the "traditional Parisian" architecture and culture to the diverse culture and contemporary architecture found in the 12th district. Adding to this new age atmosphere is the influence of the latin quarter on the north side of the 13th district. The 13th district is home to Paris' own China town and a majority of the non-French population is made up of Asian immigrants. Around the national library appears to be a young and affluent population that is moving into the modern apartment structures, but deeper into the district you find the transition towards a larger middle-class community that is made up of a lot of small business owners.

A nice aspect of the 13th district is the rolling hills that make up the geography, I enjoyed the changes in elevation seeing that I don't often experience that when I find myself closer to the city center. This varying geography has also allowed the city planners to make creative work out of the district design, and you will find well designed metro stops and other forms of infrastructure integrated into the physical attributes of the district.

I highly suggest the 13th district to anyone looking to explore an interesting subculture within Paris and a community as diverse in demographics as it is in architecture and entertainment.

District 13 info:

Population - 184,235 (76.2% native Parisian // 14.6% non-EU)

Food Prices - Milk (P/L) € .88 Eggs (P/12) € 1.71 Steak (P/Kg) € 19.66

Hotel - Quality Suites , 3 Stars, € 99 (night/double room)

My favorite place: My favorite thing to do in the 13th district was to visit the 2 story Decathlon store - a massive outdoor sporting good retailer

Tourist attraction: The river walk along the west side of the Seine has wonderful nightlife

Local business: Here you see McKay, Brandon, and me waiting for our dinner at  a local burger joint we ordered the night we visited the district

Architecture: The Paris National Library (the 4 towers across the river) is a beautiful structure in the 13th district

Welcome to my blog The Identity of a City! My name is Samuel G. Peterson and I am a sophomore business student at the University of Utah. This is a blog that is documenting my summer abroad in Paris. I am here for 10 weeks studying marketing, finance, and the contrasting subcultures within each of the districts of this city. This blog specifically is where I will document the observations I make about each district that I visit. I look forward to discovering this city with you along for the ride!

To help you follow along with these blog posts, here are a few important details:

I will be visiting every odd number district in Paris, 10 all together

I will be providing census information and basic comparative pricing information for each district

I am going to be using a selfie stick to take pictures, so feel free to laugh at how touristy I look

5th Arrondissement

The 5th Arrondissement is filled with activity and some of the most interesting sites in Paris.  It borders on the River Seine, across from Notre Dame.  The area is very academic with La Sorbonne, the University of Paris and the Latin Quarter being centered here.  The Latin Quarter was named due to the frequency of Latin spoken in this area.  There are small, walkable streets with bookstores on each corner.  There was a wide variety of food options here, from Greek gyros to Mediterranean falafel to Swiss rosti and English bar.  The diversity of the food in this area contrasted the large French brasseries.

One of the most interesting sites here is The Shakespeare and Company Bookstore.  It was opened in 1951, by an American George Whitman, at Kilometer Zero, where all the roads begin in France.  As Whitman describes, “I created this bookstore like a man would write a novel, building each room like a chapter, and I like people to open the door the way they open a book, a book that leads into a magic world in their imaginations.” The bookstore is made up of multiple stories offering a wide variety of novels.  It is a communal area filled with passionate, welcoming people offering a much different flavor of the typical Paris.

An architectural feat in this area was the Saint-Séverin Church.  It is a 13th century Gothic church.  The outside of the church is filled with gargoyles and flying buttresses.  Another exciting site I explored was the Thermes de Cluny.  They are the ruins of Gallo-Roman baths.  We randomly happened upon this area after picking up a snack at the grocery store.  It is so incredible to be able to experience these sights in the middle of Paris.