Let's talk about Douai

I work in a small town called Sin-le-Noble, but I live in a larger town which is a 15-minute bus ride away called Douai. Compared to Lille, Douai is small, but it is really by no means a small town. According to wikipedia the population was 42,796 in 1999 to give you an idea of the size. The north of France is an industrial area and Douai is a bit like the Detroit of France, albeit with much more countryside and more cows in the surrounding area. There also isn't a large downtown area with skyscrapers and smokey air. It really isn't the best comparison, probably, but the comparison still stands. The economies of both Douai and Detroit are based on the automotive industry and both are suffering in the current economy. The smaller neighborhoods and towns surrounding Douai also have the feel of towns which were originally being built as new commercial centers, but were then forgotten as the economy turned downwards.

I'm making Douai sound like a dreary place, but it isn't really. Along with Arras and Valenciennes, Douai is one of the largest cities in the area after Lille. I really enjoy living here. It's large enough to have the shops and resources you need without the large city feel of Lille. I like visiting large cities and spending the day in them, but (with the exception of Paris), I do not want to live in them. I like calmer cities, where you can breathe and relax on your walk to the grocery store or to the bus stop. Douai has the perks of large-city life with its proximity to Lille, but you don't have to live with the downsides of living in a large city. Win-win

Place d'Armes- the main downtown area of Douai. Look at all that night life!

I live in a student residence at the engineering university in town, Ecole des Mines. Ecole des Mines is one of Les Grandes Ecoles, France's version of the Ivy League. Despite it being a student residence at one of the best schools in the country, the building is surprising mediocre. For one, it is always cold here. The radiators in our rooms are lukewarm at best. Possibly the best thing I've bought since getting here was my hot water bottle. I now have a toasty bed every night! The food also falls squarely in the middle of the good-bad food spectrum. I won't complain though because, hey, it's not bad! There is a communal kitchen in the building, but it's only open on the weekends. During the week we eat breakfast and dinner in the dining hall (lunch isn't part of the meal plan, I either eat at my school's cafeteria, get a sandwich, or have cheese and baguette). While I'd like to be able to cook my own meals (I want to get better at cooking and become more creative with my meals), it is a blessing in disguise to not have to worry about the majority of my meals. I probably also eat better than I would if I were responsible for all my meals! 

An example of a weekend meal- Pasta carbonara made by Guillaume, a friend in the hall

Douai is also a very old town, something that, as an American coming from a relatively young country, I love. It has been a town since the Middle Ages and in 1667 became part of France. The town is famous for its belfry which was built in 1380. I've since gotten used to walking by it on a nearly daily basis, but I'm still amazed when I remember how old it is and how many generations of people have walked that same path. 

A painting of the belfry from 1871

A picture I took on a walk home

Douai also has a river which runs through town called La Scarpe. I love living by water and try to take routes along the river whenever it's logistically possible. During the spring and summer they have boat rides on the river, but they ended the day after I arrived in town. While I enjoy looking at the river, however, I don't know if I'd want to go on a boat ride in it. It seems to be on the dirtier side... Still, pretty!

Well, I've exhausted talking points about Douai for now- until next time!