Little Routines

Little Routines, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

The first coffee of the day as bleary-eyed commuters trog off to work
is a simple but precious pleasure.

I have my favourite coffee machine, my favourite seat and my favourite
newspaper. It's a reciprocal relationship, as i'm, respectively, their
favourite drinker, sitter and reader. Let's raise a plastic cup to the
little routines...

(A Paris iPhone street photograph by Sab Will for the 'Paris and I'
photo blog)

Modern Meets Medieval

Modern Meets Medieval, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Or 'Modern Medieval Marais' if you prefer, because that's where this
extraordinary passage lies, in the old Marais district.

One of my photo tour clients yesterday told me that the curved
cobblestone gutters are the last original ones where people in the
capital would throw away their personal waste products - lovely!

Now the Swiss Cultural centre shares this atmospheric alley with some
wonderful sticking-out bits of building (that's the technical term)
with some decidedly unmedieval but colourful graffiti. Eye candy.

(A Paris iPhone street photograph by Sab Will for the 'Paris and I'
photo blog)

Here To Serve

 

Here To Serve, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

As i write this, 50 metres from the splendidly lit Notre Dame, with a
fabulous full moon rising, i smile at the memory of the waitresses in
this café. This one was fine, but her colleague was far more
interested in strutting and smoking than serving and smiling.

i loved the lights and the easy pace; never forget: in Paris you pay
for the privilege of sitting for hours in comfort and cosiness in a
Parisian café, not for the quantity of liquid in your cup or the
quality of service, although, contrary to the opinions of certain
whinging tourists, i've never had any problems with the quality of
service. (With the quantity, yes, but again, that's my baggage.)
Funnily enough, the French seem to think the service is fine.

The rude French waiter is a myth, folks. Or at least he's no ruder
than the customers he serves. That ends this public announcement from
the Paris Tourist Board. (i've accepted some extra hours from them to
suppliment my photography work)

(a Paris iPhone street photograph by Sab Will for the 'Paris and I'
photo blog)

Don't Rush Me

Don't Rush Me, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

The Canauxrama boat trips, which include another Parisian curiosity -
navigating below ground under a typical tree-lined boulevard - is
something i have to shamefully admit to never having done.

Here we see people on one of the charming bridges crossing the Canal
Saint-Martin watching the unhurried process of the crossing of the
locks.

Do this trip, by all means, but don't be in a hurry to do this trip,
if you see what i mean.

(A Paris iPhone street photograph by Sab Will for the 'Paris and I'
photo blog)

Railing Against Ignorance

Railing Against Ignorance, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Not being too much of an indoor museum type, one of my favourite
Parisian activities is enjoying the wonderful outdoor photography
exhibitions held along the railings of the Jardin de Luxembourg.

The theme is usually ecologically friendly, always fascinating and
enlightening, and the enormous images are stunning without fail.

And although i doubt i'll ever have my own show in that particular
spot, i borrow it for a shot or two of my own from time to time...

(A Paris iPhone street photograph by Sab Will for the 'Paris and I'
photo blog)

White Material

White Material, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

White Material indeed, and rather a lot of it since the grimily gothic
Tour Saint Jacques has been degroglified and resparklised.

After Lady Eiffel this is probably my favourite Parisian tour, apart
from the stunningly beautiful Tour Montparnasse, of course.

Only joking about the latter. The only good thing about the
Montparnasse Tower is that you can go up to the top of it and take
beautiful photos of Paris without... the Montparnasse Tower in them.

(A Paris iPhone street photograph by Sab Will for the 'Paris and I'
photoblog)

Black & White Mannequins Show

Black & White Mannequins Show, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

An impressive display in the window of a Parisian storefront catches
the eye, just opposite the starkly white, newly polished Tour Saint
Jacques. Which you'll see i cleverly managed to NOT get reflected in
the glass even though i genuflected greatly in order to do so. Oh
well, some things just weren't to be.

(A Paris iPhone street photograph for the 'Paris and I' photo blog by
Sab Will)

My Reality

My Reality, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

This is my Paris,
My reality.

No-one sees what I see ~
It belongs to me.

This is my sky,
These are my clouds,
My reality.

I belong to no-one;
Paris set me free.

(a Paris iPhone Street photograph for the 'Paris and I' photo blog by
Sab Will)

Shoe Gazer's Paradise

Shoe Gazer's Paradise, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

How many hours of my life, i wonder, have i spent contemplating other
people's shoes..?

Probably many hundreds. That's the Paris transport system for you. It
has that effect on you. It's the ultimate shoe-gazer's paradise. Seen
any good shoes lately?

(a Paris iPhone street photograph for the 'Paris and I' photo blog by
Sab Will)

Chromatic Aberration

Chromatic Aberration, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Weary, worn out Parisians are still reeling from last week's discovery
of The SNCF's Incredible Multicolour Tunnel!

Heretofore hidden, all but forgotten, a sudden certain excitement is
running through the veins of the averagely forlorn, dreary capital
commuter.

Now everyone wants to take the rainbow route to freedom from drabdom,
but for the moment will have to wait: experts are still assessing the
situation. They are not helped by the fact that since the
disappearance of colour from our world late last century, production
of chromatic cameras has completely ceased and investigators are
obliged to visit the site to study the phenomenon. We'll keep you
posted.

(a Paris iPhone street photograph for the 'Paris and I' photo blog by
Sab Will)

Bright Lights Tonight

Bright Lights Tonight, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Opposite Gare du Nord is a fairground's worth of neon lights trying to
tempt weary travellers into cafés, hotels or fast food joints.

Strangely enough, in front of the station's facade itself is another
kind of nightlife, where many of Paris' homeless people unfold well-
worn cardboard boxes or unfurl filthy sleeping bags and bed down for
the night.

Two ways of life, worlds apart, but just a beer can's throw away...

(a Paris iPhone street photograph for the 'Paris and I' photo blog by
Sab Will)

I Do, He Do, Do U Sudoku Do?

I Do, He Do, Do U Sudoku Do?, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

i Don't, actually. Never seen the point. To each their own, eh? Lots
of people do. Sudoku do. On trains, on planes, say it stimulates the
brains. Well, it probably does, but you know what? i just Don't Care
if i can get all the lines having all the numbers from 1 to 9 or
whatever the trick is. Not my bag. Doesn't do anything for me.
Apparently writing stuff like this does. As i said earlier... to each
their own.

(a Paris iPhone street photograph and blurb for the 'Paris & I' Photo
Blog by Sab Will)