Heels an' Deals

Heels an' Deals, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

You don't have to go paying to see art in Paris: the whole of Paris is
art!

Take the Saint Germain area of the bohemian (and intellectual) Left
Bank, for instance. The little streets between boulevard Saint Germain
and the Seine are heaving with commercial art galeries (read 'picture
shops'), which are dying for you to go in and certainly don't expect
you to walk out five minutes later whistling cheerily with a €5000
painting or sculpture under your arm.

Just avoid the classic art ignoramus' faux pas and cultural clangers
like asking 'So what sort of discount can you do me on the browny
one?' or sniggering loud enough to be heard by all 'My three-year-old
daughter could have done a better job than that with her eyes closed...'

Much safer to go down the respectfully circumspect route, with rueful
comments such as 'I really like this piece, but it's a little over my
budget...' or 'Fascinating, just... fascinating! Could you tell me a
bit more about the patient, ERRR, artist?'

We're not buying second-hand cars here, and it's just possible there's
more to that bright red, metre-high, shiny plastic stiletto than meets
the eye! Just possible...

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

Open Air Feast

Open Air Feast, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Any ideas about this old postcard i found? Beautifully maintained box
hedges in an intricate, weaving pattern; a stately manor house wiith
classical architecture; and to top it all, an incredible, open-fronted
banquetting hall open to the elements and all! And yes, it's on Paris!

If you think you know where it is, leave a comment below, and I'll
tell you shortly, ok?!

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

Move Over Darling

Move Over Darling, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Or 'turn over, baby' in this case. The naughty naked one is so
interested in this guy she's actually flipped herself round to get a
better look at him. And he doesn't even realise!

Talking of fleshy advertising, companies never cease to amaze me with
what they can get away with in this country. And most of it's wanton
(female) sexploitation to boot.

The one that hits me the most is the giant, naked, on her back and
oiled Galeries Lafayette girl with her knickers hanging off her toes
for anyone, i mean everyone (young school children, sex perverts,
potentially anorexic women..) to admire.

Not forgetting everyone's TV favourite: a shocked wife surprises her
husband who appears to be masturbating into the kitchen sink. When he
turns round, however, we find that all he is doing is vigorously
whisking some mixture (Ho-ho... What did you think he was doing ? Wink-
wink ;-) in an ad either for whisks or a mixture you nead to whisk
vigorously. For some reason i can never remember which.

Another fun French TV moment for all the family...

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

Can't Buy Me Love

Can't Buy Me Love, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

This one inspired a poem, but i won't impose it upon you here.

This humble guy is called Yoan, and he comes from Romania. He hasn't
had much luck with accommodation or work, and spends his days making
patterns with centime coins on the pavement about half way along
boulevard Montparnesse.

i gave home a fancy €2 coin for his trouble, and he looked at it and
his eyes lit up and he said, 'If you ever see a €2 piece with the
Pope II on it, whatever you do, hang on to it -it's worth a fortune!'

i wasn't sure who Pope II was, bit i've just looked it up and it's
absolutely true! The Vatican issues a very limited number of
commemorative €2 coins, including a particularly rare one with Pope
Jean Paul II's image on it. i can't help wondering what a George &
Ringo specimen would be worth.

Money can't buy you love, folks, but i did get a smile from Yoan,
before offering him anything.

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

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Black Holes of Paris - Coming To A Station Near You

Black Holes of Paris, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

i've always been intrigued by the darker, more mysterious side to the
sinuous beast which is the Paris subterranean transport system.

That the (sometimes) shiny new facades and refurbished stations are
just a small proportion of the sinister entrails which snake beneath
our feet is no more obvious than, surprisingly, at the central Paris
station of Saint Michel on RER line B.

There, right across the narrow track from the platform, where you'd
normally expect a couple of advertising panels to be, lurks a, well,
for want of a better expression for it, bloody great black hole. Go have a
look for yourself, just don't get too close to the edge...

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

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Soirées Rencontres

Soirées Rencontres, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

A young man sends out a trunk call for available and free young women for 'evening
meetings' in Paris...

i don't know about you girls, but if i were you i'd call that number
sharpish... offers that special don't grow on trees, you know.

And what's more this galant young Don Juan has definately gone the
extra inch, err, mile, in making himself available day and night - now
that's devotion above and beyond the call of duty and would certainly
suggest a gentleman well worthy of a secend glance.

So do let us know how you get on, but more than three strikes for this
guy and i'll be expecting a cut...

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

~ Thanks to Heather Stimmler-Hall, and her excellent Secrets of Paris blog for bringing this to my attention.'

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All Hung Up

All Hung Up, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

A charming image, one would be tempted to say 'from yesteryear', but
no friends, it dates i'm afraid from the giddy annals of half an hour
ago.

In the splendid Rodin Museum gardens, no less, upstands this valiant
personage, witness to glorious times gone by, such was the master
sculptor's gift, upon which our thoughts and heads may easily become
hung.

Like a horse preparing for battle, the underlying potency and latent
foreboding of the image are all the more evident.

Surely only a genious like Rodin could have produced such a work. And
certainly only a heinous twisted twenty first century street
photographer would have noticed such a quirk (love silhouettes)...

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

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The Pontiff Speaks

The Pontiff Speaks, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

The Pontiff Speaks!

The Pope's thinly veiled message today in Paris left no doubt as to
His Holiness' true feelings on recent scandals: 'Sure you can kick ass
buddy, just don't fuck with God...' (or at least go in protected)

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

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Later, Daisy

Later, Daisy, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

And hot on the heels of Sammy Somehound, i proudly present... Kitty
Catcher!

There are relatively few cats in Paris proper, with the notable
exception of Montmartre, villagy parts of the 19th behind the Parc des
Buttes-Chaumont, and other more secluded residential areas.

But in the very near suburbs, where i currently live, you are much
more likely to encounter sone local feline friendliness.

This frosted apparition at my livingroom window is Daisy, a cute
little grey tabby, if there is such a thing, who likes to come and say
hello every now and sometimes. See you later Daisy!

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

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Every Now And Sometimes

Every Now And Sometimes, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

'Every now and then...' No, that's not it. 'From time to time... ' Uh-
uh. Well alright, just... 'Sometimes...'

...along the road of life, you connect with someone, something,
somehound, who seems to genuinely want to spend a few furtive seconds
with you.

Something seems to pass, some message, for which words would be
totally redundant.

And then the moment is gone, shadows move on,
pawsteps fade into the distance, and it's back to the road again.

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

photo blog)

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Son of a Ditch..!

Son of a Ditch..!, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

OK, i'll help you out here... it's a 'jardin' (that's Froggy for
'garden') but it's NOT in Luxembourg (hint hint...)!

Any ideas? Alright, here's another helper for you dimbos: the floral
arrangements in this Parisian park are really LUXurious - after i had
taken this photo i (totally illegally) plucked a flower from it's
resting place and 'Senate' to my loved one.

No..? Oh well, never mind, just keep on reading the 'Paris and I'
photo blog, and hopefully, one day, you'll become a Fan, by fun!

~ Disclaimer: of course, if you're not a dimbo (and you certainly aren't, i'm only joking, Paris photo lovers!), let your voice be heard: that's what the Comments Section is for... 8-)

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

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Don't Bring Me Down

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

Sometimes the city does strange things, revealing sinister slits in
its carapace.

Here's such an occurence, at Denfert Rochereau, just when you'd least
expect it.

But don't let it get you down. Although you'll be down there soon
enough if you want to get home at a reasonable hour...

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

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Echoes of Austerity

Echoes of Austerity, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Wartime Britain? Earthquake disaster zone? No, of course not! It's
just Paris people, a coupla days ago, in the 14th district of the
capital.

About 30 or forty famished folks, in various states of dress, many
unkempt, some with grubby rucksacks or heaving plastic bag
collections, all of them milling around one of the city's open air
soup kitchens.

Paris is a city of homeless people, pigeons, pooches and rats, and
even a few lucky individuals who have a roof over their heads...

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

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Warmth On The Streets

Warmth On The Streets, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Some ads are just, well, ads, but others seem to cross over into the
realm of true artistic beauty.

This 'publicité' for a new film from French director Luc Besson
combines gorgeous colours with a wonderfully atmospheric feeling of
another time.

All that was required then was to place it in a typically Parisian
setting with some cool twilight blueness to contrast starkly with the
rich warmth of the poster. And another Paris street iPhone photograph
was born!

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

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Lend Me Your Lungs

Lend Me Your Lungs, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Nothing particularly spectacular about this shot, you may be saying,
and you'd probably be right. Except for one thing. There is very
little chance you will ever see this statue however much you wander
around the city.

The reason? Because this shot was taken from a moving car zooming
around the 'périphérique' (the nasty Paris ring road) in the
Gentilly / Stade Charlety area, although if you happened to be
strolling through a south Parisian cemetary i grant you you might
glimpse this stoney couple with probably one of the unhealthiest views
in Paris.

You'd need lungs of concrete to cope with all that pollution...

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

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Two Lips, or I'm a Liar

Two Lips, or I'm a Liar, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Haven't done a 'roundy' for a while, and thought this pic fitted the
format well...

From a Parisian square near you - nothing screaming out and shouting
'Look, we're in Paris' but hey, Paris has flower gardens too, ok?! ;-)

Gonna give a nod to the guys and gals at Hipstamatic and SwankoLab in
this post, and i think they know why... They don't make the photos,
but boy-oh-boy do they let us have fun afterwards!!! i'm probably
among your top 1000 fans, coz i know i've got competition!

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

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A Knee For a Knee

A Knee For a Knee, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

How often does the perfect knee (or calf or neck or wrist) just slip
you by because you were at the right place in the wrong frame of mind..?

This is a daily occurence in the Paris métro - there's even a column
in one of the free daily newspapers for lovelorn losers trying to
refind that elusive sideways subway smile.

I wish them luck.

(An iPhone street photograph by Sab for thé 'Paris and I' photo blog)

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Eiffel Tower on My Back

Eiffel Tower on My Back, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

i expected to witness some pretty strong emotions as i photographed (a
very small part of) the Paris marathon today. What i didn't expect was
that those emotions would be my own.

i was twice overcome by tears as i watched these brave idiot-angels
shuffle-hobble by, some still smiling, some elsewhere.

Opposite me was a guy with no camera, no kid in tow and no agenda who
was quite simply and genuinely encouraging each and every athlete.

'Allez Monsieur, c'est très bien' - 'Super Madame, c'est formidable!'

And i followed suit, clapping and cheering these brave people, testing
their limits, and mine.

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

Hôtel de Ville Mirage

Hôtel de Ville Mirage, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

There's a fantastic view looking across from pont Saint-Louis - the
little bridge between the two islands - to the impressive Hôtel de
Ville.

Particularly at night. This is it.

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

Shakespeare & Yo

Shakespeare & Yo, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Shakespeare and Company is perhaps the most famous ex-pat meeting
place in Paris. i used to run photography workshops in the little
upstairs library where so many famous writers and poets have read and
ruminated, and me too!

Here's a poem i wrote (and read there) about my first S&C poetry
reading, if you see what i mean:

http://www.parissetmefree.com/poetry/2003/shakespeare_and_company.htm

Curiouser and curiouser...

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

From Where I Stand

From Where I Stand, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Paris is nothing if not acutely aware of her own beauty, the
narcissistic cow! Looking down from the top of these steps you have a
truly panoramic and breath-taking view of the city of light (and porn,
and homelessness and conspicuous consumption, but let's not get into
that).

Looking up from the bottom you are amazed by this fairytale Disney-
like icing-domed palace called Le Sacré Coeur (also home to mafia-like
beatific bouncers who jump upon every indecently bared lens as though
you were trying to steal away their very weeping souls.

Lest we forget, Paris doesn't give a damn - she'll be around long
after any of us here have stopped tapping out tired tirades on virtual
klickety keyboards.

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

Bits and Pieces

Bits and Pieces, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Late night Gare du Nord is not the best place for a white boy to be
hanging out with a nice camera, or even an iPhone for that matter, but
at least the latter, which i'm using here, is far more discrete than a
thundering great SLR dangling around your neck screaming out 'Hey, i'm
over here - come and mug me: over HERE i say!'

This is a view of the brand new facelift facade through an enormous
piece of industrial Meccano that just happened to be passing by.

To the left is the free open-air Paris campsite (tents not allowed)
and on the right drug dealers central (open all hours). 'Facade' is
the word indeed.

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

Big Mac On Heat

Big Mac On Heat, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Guess where... Did you guess? A McDonalds restaurant next to a
friendly neighbourhood porn cinema...

Yes, that's right - it's Paris and it's Pigalle - did you get it
right? Great! Here, have this plastic Eiffel Tower keyring as a prize!

Oh, and if you hurry, there's a free Big Mac on offer for every entry
to 'Big Girls On Heat' purchased...

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

Need A Leak?

Need A Leak?, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Ultra-modern RER line E is one of the jewels in the crown of the Paris
transport system.

Sleek new trains whizz by, the stylish design really catches the eye,
the high-tech feel of the place certainly impresses, and the, errr...
red plastic buckets slap-bang in the middle of the platforms catch the
drips from the leaky roofs...

Glad to see reality hasn't been entirely suspended.

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

Sacré Bleu

Sacré Bleu, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

A dull old photo of Sacré Coeur wasn't doing much for me this Easter
Monday morning, so i sabicalised it!

Montmartre was crawling with tourists and pilgrims yesterday and i
didn't venture inside, contenting myself with the gargoyles and the
grime. Honestly, it's really grimy round the back, go take a look!

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

Draw Me A Democracy

Draw Me A Democracy, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

In a paraphrased quote from the classic 'The Little Prince', Paris street
artist Jérôme Mesnager illustrates one of the three French principles: liberté,
egalité, fraternité.

Jérôme has painted his iconic boneman all over Paris for many years
now, and i'm always happy when i discover another of his works during
a Parisian ramble.

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

Heading Home

Heading Home, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Late night fatigue on both sides of the train window as we chugg
through sombre Châtelet Les Halles on the way south on the RER Line B.

This train station always fascinates for its many sides, whether
unsettling or insalubrious, disquieting and never quite relaxing.

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

With Love From Paris

With Love From Paris, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

Well yes, i know it's an ad for a money transfer company, but once you
get rid of the logo it's quite a positive image to come across in the
chilly boulevards of the French capital.

The caption on the poster asks 'Can one send love? - Yes!' and i'll
try to send you a little bit of mine, or Paris's, in perhaps the only
way i can: with a stolen image.

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

Inevitable Culture Crash

Inevitable Culture Crash, originally uploaded by Paris Set Me Free.

For all its banality and ordinariness, i've gotta love my local train
station for its originality sometimes. Due more to the local lads and
this photographer's seery eye than any official intention of course.

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