To sum it up, Paris was hot, crowded and noisy. It didn’t quite present itself as you know it from romantic movies, where a guy and a girl sit in a little boat, floating down the Seine river, being all lovey-dovey. The French capital is a global city and next to New York and London one of the main metropolises of the Western World. That is how Wikipedia describes it and I agree. The main roads and the extensive metro system are pumping millions of people through the city’s arteries into the twenty different arrondissements. We found ourselves surrounded by people of all different nations, skin colors, professions and stories and that is exactly what is really fascinating and interesting about Paris. You are in the center of all nations, one of a million, yet in this colorful mixture one of a kind. People of different nations merge to an elusive mash, living right next to each other, sharing their history and redefining it.
We are tourists and although Marcus refuses to take a map in his hand to reveal our status we are able to find our way through the city. We watch people posing in front of Sacré-Cœur, while two streets to the left the ghetto is in full spate, we turn in the little side streets and find ourselves in front of beautiful little bars and restaurants, we are lying in the park, listening to the constant city noise. You can actually find what the city guide is promising by avoinding the places it is recommending. If you just explore the city on your own and don’t walk into the tourist traps you can find some of the charm you know from the movies and narratives. You’ll find small oases, old-established bakeries or become witness of stories that only metropolises can tell. Time is passing quickly while we explore the city in huge steps and can’t help but ask ourselves: Oh Paris, what are you doing to us?
Thank you, Escapio for making this beautiful trip happen and for having us in one of your Paris hotels.
Text: Caroline Kurze | Pictures: Caroline Kurze & Marcus Werner
Aug 13, 2012 · 12:50
Great shots. I've not been back to Paris since I visited as a teenage backpacker, seeing these makes me think it's time for another visit.
PS. The guy in the sandwich shop looks like a French version of Stephen Fry to me.
Aug 13, 2012 · 13:22
Thanks James. It is definitely worth a visit! And the guy really does look a little like Fry :)
Aug 14, 2012 · 00:16
I truly value your work, Great post.
Aug 17, 2012 · 11:40
Great pictures Caroline! Your observations about the huge cultural diversity of Paris dwellers is down right! Paris IS a very cosmopolitan city like NYC or London. This is not an element that is obvious when people spontaneously think of Paris, we tend to think of the history, la mode, architectural treasures. We should definitely add the diversity of its dwellers in the mix.
Aug 22, 2012 · 22:01
Thank you Caro, I appreciate it.
Aug 30, 2012 · 10:45
treffend geschrieben, schön bebildert. fast so erlebe ich paris auch nach 34 besuchen... ;-) könntest du mir sagen, wo das bild no 28 situiert ist? sieht mir nach einer ecke aus, die ich noch nicht kenn' ;)
Sep 18, 2012 · 16:57
Danke Urs! Bild No 28 ist irgendwo rund um den Square Du Temple entstanden. Wir waren auf einen Kaffee im Merce and the Muse (ein ganz nettes Plätzchen übrigens) und sind von dort ziellos los spaziert. Hinten dran gabs auch einen Markt mit Essensständen etc. Viel Glück dir beim Finden ;)