Cultivated Chaos

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Cultivated Chaos ~

Cultivated Chaos, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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This was spotted in Paris' open air sculpture park on the banks of the Seine, and, assuming it's not a piece of modern art, is going straight into my 'Crap Paris' series over on the Paris If You Please blog.

It's almost refreshing to see such disorder in such a strictly regimented place. Humanity (and strong wind) has struck again.

There was further chaos just down the river bank a bit, with the semi-circular areas next to the water where couples usually gracefully tango on a Sunday evening completely flooded.

Oh, it IS modern art. I'm so sorry..!

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Nico Woz Ere

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Nico Woz Ere ~

Nico Woz Ere, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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1764 seems to have been a good year for graffiti, or at least seriffed scrawlings. It's practically the only one which has survived to the present day, in any case, which must stand for something.

It's the name (Nico) of a celebrated city chronicler who had the habit of leaving traces of his life in the stones he passed on his nocturnal strolls.

There have been many, and in particular nowadays, who have followed in his footsteps but he shall remain the original 'tagger' of Paris, in all his glory. And it's in the Place des Vosges of all prestigious places to boot!

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Pompidou Pondering

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Pompidou Pondering ~

Pompidou Pondering, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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This national monument always seems to have something interesting going on, and outside as well as in too.

I liked this contemplative lass sitting passively in front of this impressive poster.

The last time I took a shot here it was of a guy wearing a Borat green strapped thong thing, if you know what I mean. So things have calmed down since then...

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Marble Marvels

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Marble Marvels ~

Marble Marvels, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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Another one from the open air Seine-side sculpture park, exhibiting a stunning purity and undeniable sensuality.

It's also slightly disturbing, with those almost stringy filaments of marble reaching across the void and obscuring the view of another wonderful one-piece wonder.

I'm just a bit sad they don't constantly update the works or have temporary exhibitions like they often do in places like the Jardin de Luxembourg and the Tuileries and on other parts of the river bank. A missed opportunity, I feel.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Sacrilegiously Covered

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Sacrilegiously Covered ~

Sacrilegiously Covered, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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One of my favourite Paris curios, these letters, near Place des Vosges and the Carnavalet museum, were to mark the boundary of a mediaeval fiefdom.

The modern world has sadly caught up with this vestage from the past, unfortunalely, and someone decided to paint the previously craggy and characterful accompanying wall... light grey - YUK!

Slightly more acceptable is a cute graffito from, could it be Fred Le Chevalier, or someone like that? Less permanent than that awful light grey atrocity too.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Singing To The Street

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Singing To The Street ~

Singing To The Street, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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It's always nice to discover a new member of a favourite family.

Here it's the guy who had his little black man carrying away the white stripe under his arm who's struck again. This time we are treated to a singer wowing the crowd, err, or something like that. It's fun anyway.

There must be a gallery of his stuff somewhere on the internet - my photo friends (Richard?) will know who it is...

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Zebra's Changed His Stripes

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Zebra's Changed His Stripes ~

Zebra's Changed His Stripes, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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A new road marking has sprung up, in the Marais at least, and I'm wondering what it's about.

There are two or three sets of three parallel white lines drawn across the road as side streets meet a main thoroughfare.

I guess it's pretty obvious really: "Watch the hell out!" for all concerned, motorists, pedestrians and cyclists alike. And maybe they reckon it's more striking, if you'll pardon the phrase, than the good old zebra crossing.

Not a bad idea really, although it does clutter up the streets even more than before, but I guess when it's for safety's sake, it can only be a good thing.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Venetian Blind Alley

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Venetian Blind Alley ~

Venetian Blind Alley, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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The other end to the narrowest street in Paris, the rue de Venise, at barely two metres wise.

Named after the sign of a Venetian money changer, A l'Ecu de Venise, this almost alley more than road links the rue Saint-Martin as it passes Beaubourg and the curiously named and inhabited rue Quincampoix in the 4th arrondissement of the city.

Here we also get a fine view of the old fountain, one of the oldest in Paris, which graces its embouchure. And of course it's not a 'blind alley' at all...

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Impaled Poney Ponder

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Impaled Poney Ponder ~

Impaled Poney Ponder, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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King Louis XIII, I think it is, otherwise known as the silliest equestrian statue in the city.

The one with the horse impaled on a huge concrete tree trunk. Or something. Ridiculous.

Seems they couldn't manage to get this Place des Vosges statue to stand up of its own accord, so they chose this ungainly, if original solution. The five-legged horse of Paris. So now you know.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Leonine Leverage

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Leonine Leverage ~

Leonine Leverage, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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Another of those door furniture items I've been warning you you'd be seeing more of.

Two lions hold a stave like an offering in their jowls. And all so that we can grab hold of it and pull the door shut.

They could do with a lick of paint but apart from that they're pretty impressive.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Rag & Bone Man

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Rag & Bone Man ~

Rag & Bone Man, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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I've often written about the free Paris papers and their charm isn't on a diminuendo as far as I'm concerned.

I always look for them and carry around ridiculous numbers of them folded and scrunched up in my pockets for days after their sell by date.

So picture me on a suburban-bound train with my giveaway rag contemplating the day's events and we'll have moved just a little closer.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Paris Is Shifting

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Paris Is Shifting ~

Paris Is Shifting, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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Thought you might be interested in seeing the subtly shifting face of the city.

Here we are in the courtyard of the Hôtel de Sully I think it is, and if you look carefully at the window on the right, you could rightly be slightly worried about being inside as the frame seems to be shifting as we shoot.

In the Marais there are plenty of old buildings, in various states or repair, but it's rare to see such obvious subsidence or whatever's going on, as we do here.

By the way, check out this little passage way from the main thoroughfare between the Hôtel de Ville and the Bastille, and the primordially pleasant Place des Vosges; it's delightful.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

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© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Watching Me Watching You

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Watching Me Watching You ~

Watching Me Watching You, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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Oh dear, another pig-out, as much for the free toilets as anything else. At least, that's my excuse, on another lonely lensome ramble.

This one's called 'Quick', which is generally a serious misnomer as they are anything but, especially when you're either famished or dying for a pee.

Unlike McDonalds, they don't add salt automatically to their chips, in case that information is useful to you in any way.

And like trains, they are good people watching arenas. I wonder who's watching me.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

The Long Ride In

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ The Long Ride In ~

The Long Ride In, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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Here we're approaching the Big Pea, as the fields and sleepy suburbscapes give way to higher rise buildings and the odd gypsy camp surrounded by heaps of goodness knows what.

Then the chimneys near Le Roy Merlin appear and the concrete cylinders and you know you're about to hit Bibliothèque François Mitterrand station and all that Paris palaver.

And then there are the folks on the train. Ordinary folks living out their lives, just occasionally giving a glimpse into them for a moment. I wonder if anyone's done a PhD on train life. I'm sure the material's rich with possibilities.

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.

Signing Off

Paris iPhone Photo Chronicles ~ Signing Off ~

Signing Off, a photo by Paris Set Me Free on Flickr.

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A fully employed Paris lamp post if ever there was one.

There's the parking sign, the name of the area, an arrow, a disabled person indicator, a no-stopping sign, is it(?), a 'parked cars will be rapidly disposed of' warning and of course the little red and green men to finish it all off.

Phew. Did you get all that? Without actually running into the post itself...

And why not...

J è  GRAB MY 20 AMAZING PARIS CURIOSITIES FREE NOW!  ç J

_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2013 Sab Will / Paris Set Me Free - Contact me directly for photo tours, interviews, exhibitions, etc.