Beethoven

As I know Boston so well, it would help me to figure out the spacial concept of the Paris arrondisements--if someone could explain it in the context of Boston and its surrounding areas. Thank you
BTW, write here if I can give any info you need about Boston.

Eloise

I don't think anyone short of an urban planner familiar with both Boston and Paris could respond to your question as stated.

Simply put, an "arrondissement" is a district. I am sure there are nice districts and not so nice districts in Boston.

The same is true of Paris. The following Web site gives you a map and a brief description of each arrondissement:

http://www.parisnet.net/parismap.html

Leely

Can't one of the clever people on this board turn this into a hilarious thread that'll make Friday at work go by faster?

I know Boston even less than I know Paris, so unfortunately I can't help you.

111op

I don't know either all that well.

But, basically, for a first-time visitor, arrondissements 1-9 are your best bets.

If you look at a map of Paris, the numbers spiral out in a clockwise fashion. So, basically the smaller the number, the "more central" the arrondissement.

I'm surprised that you don't ask us to compare Paris to Bonn (your birthplace) or Vienna (your workplace -- isn't this where you died too?). While you're at it, could you let us know why you only wrote two movements to your last sonata? So many people have speculated as to the reason, but I want Beethoven to tell me.

StCirq

If Boston were to elect 19 more mayors, there might be some small comparisons to be made.

111op

I miss your point, StCirq. Does Paris have 20 mayors? I thought that it has only one?

highledge

I'm a Bostonian and have been to Paris about eight times. You really can't compare the two. Boston is so much smaller than Paris. There are more layers to each area in Paris.
The Marais and the Latin Quarter could be similar to the South End. St Germain des Pres, Back Bay-ish.
Think of the numbers as zip codes. Very simple zip codes that spiral out counter clockwise from the center/1/tuileries.

StCirq

111op:

http://www.francegenweb.org/mairesge...es.php?dept=75

111op

So how does Bernard Delanoe fit into all this then?

Of course, while looking this up, I saw some news from 2 years ago that he was stabbed. That's interesting.

ira

Hi B,

See http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34530926

StCirq

111op:

I believe Delanoe is a sort of "Über-mayor." It's also possible for a mayor of an arrondissement to hold another position; e.g., Jaques Toubon, mayor of the 13me, is (or maybe was - I don't keep that careful track of French politicians) Minister of Internal Affairs.

111op

Interesting. Thanks! Now that you've brought this up and I think about it more, maybe I do remember hearing about this somewhere else.

Apparently the phenomenon of accumulating titles and positions happens a lot. Chirac supposedly does this/did this quite often.

suze

Paris spirals out from the center as do the arrondisement numbers (starting at 1) and matching last digits of the zip codes and license plates.

Or do you mean more like "The Latin Quarter is similar to Cambridge"? Or "Boston Commons is like Luxembourg Garden"?

Why not forget about Boston and just begin to learn about Paris? I think it would be a much easier task.

walkinaround

perhaps you are looking for something like this...

if you like the back bay, stay in the x arrondissement.

this is not possible to do. as another poster put so nicely, the parisian districts have much more layers. you will find a bit of back bay, south end, central square, ect, all in one district.

personally, i think the marais/bastille area offers a good combination of easy accessability to all of the city and a lively, cosmopolitan area for visitors.

i've lived in both boston and paris and know them both very well and i can assure you that this is not possible.

oh, and i don't agree with the 1-9 advice. you will not feel removed from the city in many of the districts outside 1-9.

tedgale

When my brother was Professor of Economics at Boston University, he lived in Brookline (in the same block as Michael Dukakis). He described sylvan Brookline as -- geographically -- "a suppository thrust into the rectum of Boston". Which it is, if you look at the maps.

Now, which arrondissement would Brookline be? Leafy Passy is the closest I can think of. But the 16th would be a huge....oh, forget it.

cigalechanta

To me, a Bostonian, the comparison is very funny. Boston is noted for being a confusing street wise city. The only easy to find streets are in the Back Bay because of being alphabetically lined up off Newbury St where I previously lived
Arlington,
Berkely
Clarendon,
Dartmouth,
Exeter,
Fairfield,
Gloucester,
Hereford,
And than, Massachusetts Avenue.

walkinaround

cigal...i was your neighbor...on marlborough between b and c.

cigalechanta

Walkinaround, so did cmfang.
I lived next to the now Armani Cafe. and would ride my yorkie in my bike's basket(now long gone)and worked ast the openings at the Shore Gallary.(now gone)