Exactly a year ago, Rick and I flew to Paris for few days before our long-planned visit with my parents in Gourdon. It was a few short months after the terrorist attacks. We enjoyed the luxury of a half empty Economy cabin in the plane. The crowds in the city appeared markedly sparser than usual. Conversations on the streets were conducted in French, not in English or Japanese. Reservations to our favorite restaurants were simply not needed. It felt a bit strange but nice.
We walked back to our hotel after an early dinner on the evening of our arrival and crossed the Seine on Pont des Arts. The pedestrian bridge has always been a popular spot for flâneurs at all hours of the day. That night it was eerily deserted. All the love locks had been removed from the metal screens and the views of the river were breathtaking. Save for one woman sitting on a bench and admiring the reflections on the water, we had the bridge to ourselves. It felt a bit strange but nice.
Vocabulary
Le flâneur: one who walks leisurely
SHOOTING THE SHOOTER
Sometimes the photographer becomes the subject. Palais Royal in the first arrondissement ranks as one of the most popular locations for photo shoots: the juxtaposition of classic architecture and modern elements (the often decried Buren columns) provides interesting props.