iPhone Photo Chronicles
~ Stirred Not Shaken ~
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That's a little difficult to swallow when we wander along the sleepy quays of the Seine and see a handful of gently swaying residential barges, surrounded by its collection of plastic bottles and other floating junk that doesn't look like it's gone anywhere much this side of the millenium change.
Yes, but Ah-Hah! There are other sides to the Seine, you see, or rather, you tend not to see, even within the official city limits. Head east from the centre along the banks of the river and as soon as you hit the 12th and 13th arrondissements you'll see stuff you probably wouldn't want to take photos of.
Head south-west after the Eiffel Tower and the same thing happens as you near the périphérique.
Go even further out of town and you hit places like Conflans-Sainte-Honorine (where the Seine meets the Oise), not forgetting the picturesque Gennevilliers, Bonneuil-sur-Marne and Limay. No, I'm kidding. We're talking heavy industry here.
Heavy industry which, nevertheless, means we don't have to double the French road network with all the pollution and eyesores that would entail.
And all of this coming from a simple mural. The symbol of Paris, the modest boat, here seen gracing the wall of a school for little ones. The motto of Paris is Fluctuat nec mergitur, which means something along the lines of 'Shaken by the waves but does not sink'.
I wonder if those little kiddies passing by this bright red boat each day are even the slightest bit aware of the turbulent history of their native city. Hopefully one day they will be.
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© 2011 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.
© 2011 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.
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