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Paris & Berlin – The tale of two cities (Part 1: The facts you can’t ignore)

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Re: Paris & Berlin – The tale of two cities (Part 1: The facts you can’t ignore)

#51
post #25

Even Parisians often flee Paris because of red tape and taxes, so if you add a foreign accent, or poor to no French, into the mix you are likely going to be going at a snail's pace. Berlin is cheaper, friendlier to business, friendlier to English and just friendlier in general on the street. The cheapness translates as a factor for employees (their home), and the international orientation of the city allows you to dr…

I'd be fairly surprised if there was even a single metric on which Paris beats Berlin for anything business related Like Paris having the biggest business center in Europe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_D%C3%A9fense

La Defense is important (though not "technically" in Paris, but it's Paris Area)

Let me add (compared to Berlin):

Good connectivity to: London, Brussels (train) and other cities (CDG one of the biggest air hubs)

Major companies are there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Paris#Fortune_Global...

(Most of the big companies are there: fashion, banks, defense/big contractors (some), etc)

Re: Paris & Berlin – The tale of two cities (Part 1: The facts you can’t ignore)

#52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be fairly surprised if there was even a single metric on which Paris beats Berlin for anything business related Like Paris having the biggest business center in Europe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_D%C3%A9fense

La Defense is important (though not "technically" in Paris, but it's Paris Area) Let me add (compared to Berlin): Good connectivity to: London, Brussels (train) and other cities (CDG one of the biggest air hubs) Major companies are there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Paris#Fortune_Global... (Most of the big companies are there: fashion, banks, defense/big contractors (some), etc)

the connectivity argument isn't real.

just monday, I spent 4 wonderful hours to go from CDG into town because public transport in Paris is simply broken. Berlin isn't 100% but it's 100% better.

Re: Paris & Berlin – The tale of two cities (Part 1: The facts you can’t ignore)

#53
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

La Defense is important (though not "technically" in Paris, but it's Paris Area) Let me add (compared to Berlin): Good connectivity to: London, Brussels (train) and other cities (CDG one of the biggest air hubs) Major companies are there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Paris#Fortune_Global... (Most of the big companies are there: fashion, banks, defense/big contractors (some), etc)

the connectivity argument isn't real. just monday, I spent 4 wonderful hours to go from CDG into town because public transport in Paris is simply broken. Berlin isn't 100% but it's 100% better.

I'm not talking about connectivity inside the town. But yes, there are some problems (eventually)

Or you could just take a cab from CDG to Paris.

But Paris has the Eurostar and Thales this means 1h15 from Paris (city center) to Brussels (city center) and +/- 2h20 to London (St Pancras station). Without having to go to a far-away airport and get there 1h before the flight.

Berlin sure has lots of flights but it's not an Intl hub like LHR or CDG

Re: Paris & Berlin – The tale of two cities (Part 1: The facts you can’t ignore)

#54
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd be fairly surprised if there was even a single metric on which Paris beats Berlin for anything business related Like Paris having the biggest business center in Europe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_D%C3%A9fense

That's an interesting read. I'd never heard of La Défense before, but the wiki page makes me wonder whether it's the largest business center in Europe because of some set of favorables or if it is because there are so many historic areas in Paris that businesses are relegated to that area.

La Defense is, and has been in the past, home to some of the largest European companies. In fashion, you have L'Oreal, LVMH (the company that owns Louis Vutton, among other notables), as well as some of France's more classic tech companies: Bull, SFR, Orange, Capgemini, etc.

Re: Paris & Berlin – The tale of two cities (Part 1: The facts you can’t ignore)

#55
post #38
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

so basically doing things that are against the local laws

It's not illegal to drink beer in public places (like the subways, parks, streets) and it's also legal to smoke tobacco in many places. Weed is not legal, but it's tolerated and discriminated.

Only they are not legal in NYC given the scenario described. NYC has open container laws (no open alchoholic containers in public), public smoking laws (particularly in public Parks) and weed is illegal under Federal law in th US.

Re: Paris & Berlin – The tale of two cities (Part 1: The facts you can’t ignore)

#56
post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

La Defense is important (though not "technically" in Paris, but it's Paris Area) Let me add (compared to Berlin): Good connectivity to: London, Brussels (train) and other cities (CDG one of the biggest air hubs) Major companies are there: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Paris#Fortune_Global... (Most of the big companies are there: fashion, banks, defense/big contractors (some), etc)

the connectivity argument isn't real. just monday, I spent 4 wonderful hours to go from CDG into town because public transport in Paris is simply broken. Berlin isn't 100% but it's 100% better.

I had the displeasure of doing this the other way around (Paris to Airport). I got on a 14 hour flight with a minute to spare.

Re: Paris & Berlin – The tale of two cities (Part 1: The facts you can’t ignore)

#57
post #25

Even Parisians often flee Paris because of red tape and taxes, so if you add a foreign accent, or poor to no French, into the mix you are likely going to be going at a snail's pace. Berlin is cheaper, friendlier to business, friendlier to English and just friendlier in general on the street. The cheapness translates as a factor for employees (their home), and the international orientation of the city allows you to dr…

I'd be fairly surprised if there was even a single metric on which Paris beats Berlin for anything business related Like Paris having the biggest business center in Europe? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_D%C3%A9fense

Or Paris having cheaper and faster home internet connections compared to Berlin..
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