This photo could have been taken in the 50's, when there were still few cars in Paris... In fact, I took it two days ago, Place d'Estienne d'Orves, on Christmas Eve, while a lot of Parisians had deserted the city to spend some time with their family in the provinces (most "Parisians" originate from the provinces). I'm just back from Normandy, quickly read the nice comments you left yesterday and the day before yesterday. Thank you very much.
saw the thumbnail on the portal and thought it was a photo of a river valley with huge cliffs!
ReplyDeleteexcellent perspective.
I can assure you that those of us who don't come from the provinces but live in Paris agree with this shot. I was mostly in bed all day today after last night's festivities. I hope everyone had a nice holiday who celebrates the holiday. Back to work tomorrow (today)!
ReplyDeleteWonderfully reminiscent of Atget and Marville. Thank you for sharing it, Eric. It's great that you share a new photo every day.
ReplyDeleteI loved your picture today...small world. We had gone out today to visit family and I commented on how empty Dover, Delaware was. Not a person in sight. then, there was your picture of empty Paris. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteEric, Love the shot. Certainly not the Paris I saw last May! We visited Normandy in May as well, and was very impressed with the way the French take care of the American Cemetery. Hope you had a great visit, and a Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYesterday I received as a gift - from a friend knowing how much I love Paris - a wonderful album with photos of Doisneau!
ReplyDeleteI remembered your relative post and now also this post!!!
And I wish that in the following years a friend again will buy me as a gift a wonderful album with photos from Tenin!
;D
Happy Holidays and a happy new year to you and all your friends here!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everybody.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky English people! For them, today is a bank holiday: Boxing day.
Does anybody know the real meaning of this day? I saw several explanations (churches boxes open for poor people and boxes of presents from the bosses to the employees...)
Yes, the latter is more or less correct. In medeieval times, the serfs would be invited up to the Great Manor House on 26th to receive their Christmas boxes of goodies. In some parts of England the term "Christmas box" is still used, but to mean a gift of cash to a tradesman -- milkman or trash collector, for example. Even here in California my newspaper deliveryman (whose name is Ngyuen) solicited a tip this year, though he wouldn't know the term "box".
ReplyDeleteInteresting explanation about Boxing Day, Expat.
ReplyDeleteWe always had an envelope (self-addressed of course) stuck in with the Christmas newspaper every year so that we could include a "tip". Ngyuen must just be catching on to this tradition!
With some luck, It could be possible to find room to park cars.
ReplyDeleteC'est Paris ca? On dirait Buenos Aires...
ReplyDeleteLa Diagonal Norte, par exemple...
Almost nobody was working today in my company ! Only the best ones ;)
ReplyDeleteBut empty rooms can also mean cold temperature ! I was quite frozen all the day long .... brrr
Hello from Blacksburg, Virginia! I am planning my first trip to Paris with my mother and my daughter in a few weeks. They are flying out of Boston on the 8th and I am flying from DC on the 10th. I am so excited and truly enjoying your blog. :) Your photos and captions are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI love this photo!
ReplyDeleteHi Eric,
ReplyDeleteI am in Paris right now for the holidays...and this is so true. We were walking around and it was so empty...and cold. Thank you for the great photos every day. Before we came over, I looked at your pictures everyday...getting myself ready!
Merci beaucoup.
Angie
I just checked PDP for the first time since...well, a few days ago. Ignoring online bills and e-mails at work is a treat for me.
ReplyDeleteI love Michael's "Night Before Christmas" adaptation: it's hilarious, and I love being a reindeer. Everyone's comments to one another are tres gentil. Now, if I could just get along with family this well over Christmas!!
Have a nice holiday season, everyone. Merry Melodies and Happy New Year.
We were lucky spend Christmas in Paris . he scene in Belleville however was in contrast to this with busy street markets and large crowds. Love the contrasts this amazing city presents .
ReplyDeleteJackie
Wow, beautiful picture! The black&white is perfect for this shot.
ReplyDeleteI would have loved to see Paris empty like this, but I was one of those: leaving Paris on christmas for being at »home« ;-)
beautiful. how does one find a moment like this? it does have the nostalgic serenity of once upon a time.
ReplyDeletesometimes i dream one could step back into the magic of the fifties with a camera... the elegance of the parisians, the magic in the cafés... its still there today, just a bit different. and the magic is in the way we see and capture it... here and now.
Very Gabriele Basilico
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