A Parisian's Paris

Phillippe Meyer tells us that gentrification, immigration and tourism have ruined Paris. I suspect it's just a ploy to dissuade tourists from visiting the City of Light. He does "ride alongs" with firemen, postal workers, teachers and a non-occupational group, gays, to bring us this portrait of Paris as it is experienced by the people who live in it. Despite describing Paris as a cultural crime scene, his love of the city is evident. I found myself mourning the loss of neighbourhoods I'd never seen. I live in a tourist town that has experienced many of the same tragic consequences that Meyer describes. Though I feel a twinge of guilt at being part of the problem tourism has created there his ploy won't work on me; I love that city despite its flaws and plan to continue visiting it until the price of oil puts transatlantic air travel out of financial reach. So there, Mr. Meyer!