Savoring a walk through Paris. . .
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| Rue Caulaincourt, Montmartre, Paris, by Green Eye |
Walking the streets of a city brings you to the local level. For a moment, you assume the feeling of living where you are visiting. You want to see what's behind that store window. Look at those tiny retail shops. . . OutTakes is an opportunity to see places that a Flâneur, the ever present stroller, would find interesting. It's also where my roving camera likes to play.
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Under the Eiffel. . .
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| Under the Eiffel Tower, Everyday Paris, by DG Hudson |
The Eiffel provides a landmark that can be seen for quite a distance, it provides cover for pedestrians beneath its four staunch supports, and it remains proof of French engineering skills. Created for a world class exhibition, the Eiffel Tower represents Paris to the world. This is one of the best spots for strolling or walking across the street to the Trocadero Plaza. Down below by the Seine River, you can catch a tour boat and buy paintings from the artists who set up their street sales there. Think of Gene Kelly, American in Paris, 1951.
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The Eternal Flame, Place de l'Alma, Paris
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| The Eternal Flame, shaded by the Eiffel Tower, by DG Hudson |
Situated over the tunnel where Princess Diana was killed in the deadly 1997 crash, the Eternal Flame became her unofficial memorial to many of her admirers. The gilded flame can be seen over the dark vehicle in the center of the image above.
The flame was dedicated in May 1989, as part of a centennial of the International Herald Tribune, Paris 1887-1987. An exact replica of the Statue of Liberty flame, it was offered to France by a group composed of donors throughout the world. The flame represents the friendship between the USA and France.
Perhaps it's not that unlikely a pairing, when you consider that Diana was always in the news from the moment she became engaged to be a princess. A monument can serve two purposes very well.
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At the Police Prefect. . .
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| French Gendarmes, Paris, by DG Hudson |
Couldn't resist taking a photo of these guys in uniform. French gendarmes in training? Not sure, but my interest was stirred. . . In principle, gendarmes are a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. This system of military organized police departments is in use in several countries in Europe today, and in France dates back to the Napoleonic era.
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What do you think of those images above? Do any of them stir your imagination? Have you got your own special memories of a place where you have explored at street level and on your own or in a tour group?
Please share your thoughts in the comments. I'm always listening. Thanks for stopping by!
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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gendarmerie Wiki on Gendarmes and Gendarmerie.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur Definition and wiki on Flâneur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flame_of_Liberty Flame of Liberty
