23.11.15

Blue, white, red.


Despite living for more than 40 years in Paris, I’m not officially French, but I feel more French than ever!

To my regret I feel that l must revert to – see also my preceding post - the tragic November 13 events. (I already posted parts of this on Facebook.)

Friday evening, November 20, one week after the attacks, I went back to Place de la République…

… and to “Bataclan”. It was a bit of comfort to listen to music, hear people sing the “Marseillaise”.

It was a further bit of comfort to see that, despite suddenly cooler and wetter weather, the café terraces were not empty.


Last Wednesday I went to the “Galerie de l’Evolution”. The Eiffel Tower is not the only monument in blue, white and red. The sad thing is that on a Wednesday afternoon, this museum should be full of visitors, kids… and it was almost empty. 


Later the same day I went to the “Louis Vuitton Foundation”, designed by Frank Gehry. I took some photos from the top - La Défense, the Bois de Boulogne. I left, walking through the “Jardin d’Acclimatation” which, this sunny and exceptionally warm afternoon should be full of kids, but… 

11 comments:

[G@ttoGiallo] said...

Heartbreaking. Since the 70s, Paris is home for me.

Virginia said...

You will have to be my eyes and ears for now Peter. Thank you for keeping us all in the loop.
V

Anonymous said...

I don't want to think about these brave people's brains these past days! How they and their adrenal glands have probably been in overdrive ever since that atrocity...

Mil gracias por el relato y las fotos. Nos pone al dia con su maravillosa ciudad y su gente.
#noussommesunis
Maria O. Russell

Kate said...

Peter, it is very difficult to resume normal activities after a catastrophic event such as this. I recall that after 9/11 it was hard to function as a normal human being. Living in the city where the terrible events occur makes it even more difficult to return to everyday tasks. Thanks for sharing all your marvelous photos.

Vagabonde said...

Thank you for showing all these pictures of people outside in Paris – I wish I could be there too. It is going to take a while to return to normal though. I like la Tour in bleu blanc rouge. I posted a picture of it too but on the Trocadero side where they projected “Fluctuat nec mergitur” – I think that was a nice touch and a propos.

Anonymous said...

Merci Peter
Michèle

Studio at the Farm said...

Thank you, Peter

Shammickite said...

Life will take a while to return to normal. But it definitely will.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for these wonderful pictures. Your blog was the first one I checked and double checked each day for information. My first opportunity to go to Europe from the USA will be Paris!!! Lorraine Joan

Jeanie said...

Peter, I'm linking this post to my Thanksgiving post on Thursday. I am most grateful that you have chronicled these events and taken us to a place where we would like to be but of course are so far away. Thank you!

claude said...

Ce post est aussi émouvant que le précédent.
Tu es le plus français des suédois, Peter.