6.2.12

Cold




The winter has been quite warm in Paris… until last week. Officially day temperatures have been – and still are - just below freezing point, but due to the easterly, Siberian, winds, during morning hours they are felt like -15°C (5°F). (Fortunately I was in Siberia and Mongolia in September, not now.)

Walking through “my” little park the other day, I noticed that for once it was empty of people. The crocuses and daffodils probably made a pause in their spring efforts. Some plants were well protected. The pigeons know how to protect themselves, trapping air by their fluffed-out feathers and standing on one leg at a time, hiding the other one.


Most ducks and geese seemed to enjoy the nice "houses" that recently have been constructed for them.




Only the seagulls seemed to be flying.






The insects have been offered an hotel and I guess they were all sleeping. A board indicates who lives where.






There is a small waterfall which had covered the nearby branches and leaves by ice.




I left the park for a walk (on the way to the cinema). The outside bar chairs were emptier than ever, with a few exceptions for some smokers.


On my way I took a few photos of people.
























 .... and yesterday (Sunday) morning, this is what I found - "my" street and park.









31 comments:

Virginia said...

Oh Peter, it looks bitterly cold. The snow did make me smile though. Merci for the photos. BTW, I am sending my readers here to see the new snowfall photos. I hope they all behave themselves. They are a rowdy bunch you know! :)
V

PS The duck condos are too cute!

Studio at the Farm said...

Peter, it looks horribly cold!!! I hope you were well bundled up for your walk in the park. The Parisians certainly have some interesting ways to care for animals -- duck condo ? and an insect hotel ?????
As always, thank you for your wonderful photos!

Rakesh Vanamali said...

Superb post on winter. A transformation of life I'd say.

Vagabonde said...

We have been hearing about the cold wave in Europe. Your pictures depict all this very well – the snow pictures are very pretty. Stay warm Peter.

Thérèse said...

I can only see the first picture... my notebook must be freezing inside... same kind of weather over here...

Thirtytwo degrees said...

Your subjects are fascinating to see weathering the storm of ice and snow...I had not realized why the pigeons would stand on only one foot until you pointed it out..thanks.

French Girl in Seattle said...

Bonjour Peter. A wonderful collection. Thank you for sharing these. I must confess my favorite series is the "Popsicle Parisians." Forget style and elegance. It seems everyone is going for warmth and comfort these days. Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

Rhi said...

Oh Peter, how I've missed reading your blog. It looks bitterly cold. The winter has been mild here in New England (I recently moved right outside New York City), which has been terrible for business but lovely for my Southern genes. Hope all is well and hope to talk soon!
-Rhi

Alain said...

C'est bien, ces hôtels à insectes...mais quand un perce oreille épouse une coccinelle où vont-ils passer leur nuit de noces ?

Paris Paul said...

I am so ready for this to be over so we can get back to our mild winter of a few weeks ago.

Of course your wonderful post makes the temperatures easier to bear!

Cergie said...

J'imagine que tu n'es guère dépaysé et que tu as une bonne stratégie contre le froid. Que penses tu de ces abris à fumeurs qui demandent de chauffer la rue ?
Les abris à insectes auxiliaires sont très à la mode, j'en ai vus au jardin botanique de la Tête d'Or à Lyon et au festival des jardins de Chaumont-sur-Loire notamment.
J'aime beaucoup l'image des canards mâles et femelles penauds se rendant à patte à la mare, ils se disent "bon sang l'année prochaine je migre vers le sud !"

SusuPetal said...

Oh, I feel a bit satisfied when looking at these photos....!! I know you can guess that, Peter!

We had -20 last week plus wind, and in the north the temperature was -41!!! Helsinki has masses of snow.

Ice in Paris!!

SusuPetal said...

Updated: new record up in the north -42,7!

M said...

Brrrrrr but beautiful! Thank you for sharing the wintry Parisian scenery. I love the pigeons and ducks! Bundle up and stay warm!

Synne said...

How fun to see snow on the streets of Paris! Also, I love how the cold pidgeons ruffle their feathers and raise their shoulders until their heads almost disappear. The same it true for some of the poeple, hehee!

Maria O. Russell said...

Siempre pense que si hacia frio en el Norte en el Sur hacia calor!
Pero hoy veo que hasta este rincon del hemisferio Sur esta enfriandose...

Hace una semana teniamos 47ºC a la sombra y ahora estamos con 15º menos. Que gran alivio para los habitantes de este infierno!

Su articulo es simplemente maravilloso, sus fotos incomparables!

Mil gracias.

Alison said...

Oh my, it has been so warm here that it's easy to forget some people are still freezing! Those freezing Parisians could be any group of Americans, all bundled up and looking uncomfortable. I had to stare awhile at the snow-covered street, it looks so different than one is used to in Paris. I hope it melts soon, instead of turning to compacted ice under the tires.

Ah, before you know it the crocuses and daffodils will be blooming!

Cynthia Schelzig said...

My nordic genes love this weather...I know I am told that I am crazy...I love your captures and the fotos of people alllll bundled up made me laugh....there is nothing worse than a winter coat:)I hate them and now I know why:)

JoeinVegas said...

It does look cold. For some reason cities always seem colder than the countryside when there is ice and snow.

delphinium said...

Je suis contente de ne pas être fumeuse... Mes collègues de travail qui fument en bavent un peu ces jours-ci pendant leur pause.
J'adore tes photos des gens qui ont froid. Jolis coups d'oeil.

Catherine said...

Winter in Paris beautifully documented...

hpy said...

La neige fait faire des photos différentes. Dommage qu'il ne fasse pas chaud pour qu'on ait plus envie de sortir la photographier.

Ruby said...

I love the bird shots!!

claude said...

A gla gla aussi ici. 10cm de neige dimanche, routes de campagnes non déneigées, c'est la galère pour rouler.
J'aime bien le pigeons la tête rentrée dans les épaules. Mes deux restos des oiseaux tournent à fond les gamelles.

Anonymous said...

My goodness, it looks like it's cold as hell over there. If you get a chance go to the Café Maure de la Mosquée de Paris, that'll definitely warm you up (well, at least your soul)
http://www.frenchcultureguide.com/12/moroccan-fare-parisian-flair/

Denise Covey said...

Hi Peter. I love all these pictures. It looks freezing. I always wear my big fur coat I bought at a London flea market when I come to Paris in winter. Got a fab shot of the frozen fountain in Palais Royale gardens last visit.

Thanks for this chilly little walk around your Paris.

Denise

orvokki said...

Thanks for sharing these beautifull fotos from cold Paris. I've allways thought that people in Paris wear like in summer..:D.

We had very cold in Helsinki, over -20 C and much snow, but we've accustomed to it.

Regards
orvokki

Cezar and Léia said...

Dear Peter,
Awesome set of images, you are very talented with your camera!
Yes it's really cold, and I'm worried about the little animals as well.
Luna stay in her blanket all day long here!I think it's a good idea! Time for a nap and hot chocolate! :)
Hugs
Léia

Jeanie said...

Our Michigan winter has been a warm one -- most recently in the 40s, and now it's dipping a bit into the 20s, but not bad. Little snow.

I hope you bring in some nice weather come mid-April because I'm headed to Paris and hope you'll be there, leading one of your tours! I'll contact you separately, but would look forward to it if Rick and I could see a part of Paris through your eyes. It's his first time, my second!

arabesque said...

when you say few fotos of people, i thought it's just 2 or 3. haha!
you posted the winter fashion week. ^0^
nice to see how Paris looks during Hiver. ^-^ and interesting to see people's expression too.

i worry about the vagrants though, how can they manage that cold weather. it must've been freezing!

Trotter said...

Lisbon is between +5º and +12º... Freezing, we say... ;))