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)

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)