Do you read the blog France Daily Photo? It's filled with well written articles and tips about France and is great for expatriates and travelers. France Daily Photo is hosting a giveaway of Hidden in Paris so you might want to check it out.
Speaking of photos , here are a few I took of bizarre things (at least bizare to me) you can find in Paris. I've lived abroad for so many years that the last time I went to Paris I found myself seeing things as if for the first time.
A random wall with so much soul. What is old and decrepit to some becomes art in Paris. In LA this facade would be torn down or stuccoed in a hurry. Same for faces. You can't age gracefully in LA. You've got to re-stucco. Like this: (thank you Isabelle for the terrifying reminder.)
In France it is forbidden to sell books at a discount. The law makes it possible for small bookstores to exist without being driven out of business by mega stores. Also, in France, books and writers are revered. Like they're actually special. The book store above was baffling. How can you find anything in it? How can it sell enough to stay afloat? It reminded me of this Gaston Lagaffe comic:
In Paris, while some people marvel at the Louvre or the Galeries Lafayette, I stood puzzled in front of this contraption. The contraption, annoyed, said to me 'take a picture it will last longer'. So I did.
This is a parisian public mailbox, typical in color and design. Notice anything strange? How can it be so puny???? Can someone explain to me why American public mailboxes are the size of small cars. Is French mail magical and reduces in size the instant it passes through the slots like in a reverse Marry Poppin's bag?
Parisian Fontains. They are everywhere so they must be important. But why so low? How do you drink from them? Crouched? Lying down face up? Were they built for the height of a malnourished French person after the great war? Or are they meant to clean your shoes after you stepped in dog dodo? After walking past them, oblivious, for the first 23 years of my life I found myself taking pictures of them like they were supermodels.
oops it's 9:47... Allright, I've wasted enough time on this today. I apologize if I wasted yours. Go back to work!
