No, I did not go to any "riot" area of previous years. There is nothing special about any of those places, which anybody can see with no problem. Any big city with housing projects can double for the 'problem' areas of France. Dilapidated buildings, poor people -- not much exotic about that.

So I decided to visit Aubervilliers instead, or at least a small part of it, which has replaced the Sentier in the 3rd arrondissement as the principal garment district, a little known fact if you are not in the garment industry.

Basically, I just wanted to show how incredibly ugly the suburbs can be, even when you are really close to Paris. I never got more than about 700 meters from the Paris city limits making this report.

So if you want to get a look at where you <b>don't</b> want to go, here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/badburbs

Thanks. Are there still "zones interdit" as there were a few years ago?

I have never considered any zone to be "interdite" anywhere in France. But you can take my opinion with a grain of salt since I was mugged in downtown Johannesburg once, where I had been warned not to go.

Thanks, I always learn from your bike rides.

The other side of the coin of the Paris fashion industry. Thanks for the virtual tour of a place I won't be visiting in March.

Interesting, thanks for the info and pictures.

I'm just shocked that there are ugly suburbs near Paris. We've never heard of such things out here in Saint-Maur.

WOW!!!! Great pictures AND prose IOW fabulous

There is always a good and bad side to all travels. Thanks for the pictures

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing and I completely agree with awygn, nowhere is perfect.

traveltalesfromtheredheadedtraveler.blogspot.com/
(My travel writing blog!)

I like your pictures as I have said in the past, but I am not so sure I'm with you this time on the tone of your prose.

Every city has it's poor citizens whether they are newly arrived immigrants, boat people immigrants, 3rd, 4th or 5th generation citizens - whatever, all of whom eke out their living from their circumstance, however tasteful or distasteful or ugly their surroundings appear to another. As you yourself point out, everything is relative between 2 sets of eyes comparing each other; I'm sure the discussion would be equally spirited were the perspectives reversed.

The scenes in your pictures could be substituted for any world capital. It is a fact that social and economic disparities always exist side by side. I may not have known where to see such in Paris, but I do now. Thanks for the pictures.

M

Looks just like sections of any city in the US. I can certainly find places in Miami, Richmond, Washington,DC, Philadelphia, New York and Boston visible from the interstate that have exactly the same feel.

Boston is trying to create a new business/residential/cultural center in a former railway yard and warehouse district with some success. There still isn't much there, but it is growing fast. It has the advantage that most of the 1900 era warehouses have very good bones.

Old warehouses and factories are getting new life in lots of places.

Interesting as always. By the way, I did want to acknowledge your "uplifting" movies while I was in the hospital. They gave me a much needed laugh. Keep up the interesting reports, and I'll buy the first (oh hell, the second, too) bottle of wine when we visit Paris (now delayed until Spring 2012)!!

That is a great compliment coming from you, maitaitom!

The "k" man does it again. You have a way of making things both interesting and informative.

"I had no idea, but it confirmed to me that I look like a low class person who belongs in such places. Damn!"
I laughed out loud at this line.

I have been in worse neighborhoods for Asian food.
Thanks once again for sharing with the rest of us.

This was interesting.

Looks like the ritziest section of Naples

Kerouac, that is really a fantastic photo essay. As for what happens to the poor people, they will just be pushed out to ever-more-distant and soulless exurbs like Les Mureaux and Trappes (try them if you're looking for a truly depressing weekend excursion) Anyway thanks for sharing those soon-to-disappear street scenes.

Reminds me of the surprise I got within Paris a few months ago, touring the historic covered streets ("passages"). After the elegance of Vero-Dodat, Vivienne, and Colbert, and the friendly bustle of Choiseul, Jouffroy, and Panoramas (among others) - what a shock to encounter the stark, wholesaler-filled Passege du Caires. (If interested, it's all in the phototravelogue at http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/...hotos-_-Sharer )