Paris is not Montreal, so when an exceptional amount of snow falls, the whole city is paralyzed. That is exactly what happened yesterday (Wednesday) after 5 hours of constant snowfalls that lead to a semi record: 11 cm (4,33 inches) and... almost 400 kilometers of traffic jams (250 miles)! I even had to leave my scooter at Le Web and take the metro back home. It was fun, but a lot of people are still stuck in their car as I am writing this caption. They say that now the snow could turn into ice during the night... This photo was taken on the Pont Alexandre III, as you may have recognized it.
Same thing happened here in Edinburgh on Monday! People had to spend all night sleeping in their cars on the motorway! Still i'd rather be snowed in in Paris!!
ReplyDeleteI am with you guys, Maine had a lot of snow too. I agree with Alison. Rather be snowbound in PARIS.
ReplyDeleteyvonne
Have never seen Pont A III like this! Paris makes a beautiful winter wonderland especially when enjoyed from a warmer distance!
ReplyDeleteIt looks beautiful. I just left Paris a day before the big storm. So sorry I missed it. What great photo opportunities.
ReplyDeleteYour photo is beautiful.
Meg
Montreal just received 40 cm the past couple days, but for some reason the snow looks a lot better in Paris ;)
ReplyDeleteA good photo opportunity, but it has to be hard on a city that isn't prepared to deal with large amounts of snow. I wonder if the Seine booksellers shut down.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding photograph Eric. You will be glad you had to take this route home. Bravo.
ReplyDeleteV
Wow super nice shot!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey mentioned it in the paper today, in SF! Posted some pictures, too
Wait, you had to take the Metro?!!! Now THAT is the real news here ;)
ReplyDeleteWow. That is a big snowfall in five hours, even here. When cities in the South (U.S.) get snow like that, they, too, shut down.
ReplyDeleteTake some advice from a veteran: just have a lot of food and wine at home and wait until things clear up. It's boring by yourself, but for those of you with partners, it's a great opportunity...!
It may be a huge pain for all of you (sorry you had to abandon the scooter and resort to the metro), but it certainly is beautiful. And your photo is a classic—thanks, Eric !
ReplyDeleteEric what is Le Web??
ReplyDeleteCouldn't get it??
You left your scooter there , i mean you parked it there??
great picture as usual!!
fint bilde !
ReplyDeleteWow...snow snow snow in Paris....everything's white...:)and great picture as usual :-)have a great day!
ReplyDelete@Tomate "Wait, you had to take the Metro?!!! Now THAT is the real news here ;)" LOOOOOOOOOOOOL! True! And I'm taking it this morning to go back to my scooter - which hopefully will still be there...)
ReplyDelete@Anonymous Le Web is a big conference that gathers a lot of people from the world - and especially Silicon Valley - and the IT/Web business. I love it... But of course I'm a geek. It takes place just outside Paris, where the snow was even thicker that is why I did not even think of taking y scooter back home.
At everyobody: OK I understand we're not the only one to suffer from the cold and the snow ;-) but for us it is so exceptionnal. You guys in Minneapolis (hey Jeff!) and Montreal (hey anonymous!) are so used to it.
Eric what a gorgeous photo!
ReplyDeleteI love it! This view, compared to the usual traffic on pont Alexandre III is so striking. Paris wears snow with style and elegance, as it does everything. Stay warm!
(very mild temperatures yesterday in Avignon, I opened all my windows and turned the heating off :-))
Don't hate me because I'm sunny:)
ReplyDeletehttp://katkam.ca/gallery.aspx
I am of to Vancouver next week for the sunshine!
Keep warm Eric....lots of sweaters:)
Europe is not prepared for snow in the same way north america is - i guess we just don't get enough of it regularly. It looks beautiful though!
ReplyDeleteGood shot lovely!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI've heard that when it snows like this in the American south, they call it "Nature's White Sale" because everyone runs to the store to stock up on milk, bread, and toilet paper. For us up North, that is just a normal day, but we have the capabilities to take care of it and are more prepared. Hope you weather the storm with grace and warmth, Eric!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful capture, Eric. You are indeed truly committed! Few people would stop and compose this shot under such frigid conditions. The pedestrian carrying an umbrella to block the snow....the person with his head down...the snow plastered to the lightpole....combined with the whiteout in the background really tells the story. Love the low angle too.
ReplyDeleteOh, Eric, this could be an illustration in the dictionary beside the word 'cold'. Brrrr, but starkly beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOMG! -- Elizabeth
ReplyDeleteIt looks so clean and fresh but I can understand the practical complications...stay warm Eric..drinks lots of Gluhwein..
ReplyDeleteSaw this on the news last night...a true winter wonderland for Paris. Your photo says it all!
ReplyDeleteIt is crippling to have 4 inches of snow in a city with no snow removal equipment. Hope it clears up soon, I'll be there in 10 days!
ReplyDeleteSo, Eric, was your scooter still there?
ReplyDeleteYour photo is great, but not really a good representation of what we, Parisians, lived last night ;-))
This is fascinating! Sorry it's giving you so much trouble, though.
ReplyDeleteThat's great! Well, not the stuck scooter part, but the snow! Any more pics? It's a great way to jumpstart the Christmas Spirit....
ReplyDeleteSean
I just heard on the news that it was the heaviest snow fall in 20 years. Great photo BTW. I don't always comment but I do check in to see your work.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eric. We can always count on you for the more interesting up-to-the-minute news. Stay warm.
ReplyDeleteI never saw my favorite bridge like this! I'm glad to hear that you made it home safely, Eric!
ReplyDeleteBrrrrrrr!
ReplyDeleteIt is an enchanting picture, Paris is a real white fairy tale.
ReplyDeleteCompliments from Hotel Paris la Defense
Such an atmosphere in your shot! it really was like that trough my windows.
ReplyDeleteI just found what they did with the snow up in Montmartre, may I share?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDyfZEMDvFg
Thank you for this video Lily. That surely was an amazing and enjoyable moment for them. Snow in Paris Really brings some fun but I prefer Paris with dry streets. ;-)
ReplyDeleteFlore
I love, love, LOVE this shot,Eric! Please consider it for next year's B&W calendar! Keep warm out there.
ReplyDelete-Kim
Brrr...looks soooo cold!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful image Eric...:)