My impression of Paris

Everyone thinks Paris as a romantic city.

Normally, It's all about Eiffel Tower, Notre Damn, the Louvre.. etc.

As a photographer, I hold no objection towards the wonderfulness of those architectures and the tourist attractions.  

But what interested me the most, are still the people, the culture, and the little things to be observed. 

It's intriguing for me to find out what are the similarities and differences we hold in a culture so distanced. 

Paris is changing. As you stroll on the street in the first district, more English than french is to be overheard. While the smell of the cigarette is still everywhere. 

   

This is my first impression of Paris: the smell of the cigarette.

Also, street performers are everywhere. Mind not their quality, they are always there to please the tourists. Even in the metro, one could find street musicians offering to share a song with you. (Of course you have to pay latter!)

They  love reading. Strolling around Paris, you'd find lots of bookstores everywhere.
Old bookstores and new bookstores. Visited by most people. Most of the time, one can only find books in french.

At the same time, you could also find people reading everywhere. On the metro, in the park. The "reading" atmosphere is quite popular in this city. 

"A Leisure Lifestyle".
Every Sunday afternoon, the retirees would gather at a square in front of the market place.

They would set up the microphone and instruments to invite volunteers to  play the music and sing with them; meanwhile, they also encourages the passerby to dance with them to celebrate the joy of a Sunday afternoon.

How lovely!

Like everywhere else in France, french eat "Baguette" (The long french bread in the photo), and there's no exception for Parisien.

 A secrete about Baguette is that they are only fresh for one day. Normally, after the second  day it gets really hard like a stone.

Another often seen scene: texting and smoking during the pause.

An old man in his own cafe, ordering only a cup of water.

The business is now carried on by his son. 

When its sunny, everyone is out for the sunshine. A huge contrast to the Taiwanese society where most people especially women eager to hide in shades when the sun comes out.

Before departing to Europe, I've always heard of this differences but never have a chance to understand how the difference is made.

I've discovered that there reason for the taiwanese ladies to find shades is because of the influence of the asian sense of beauty: the whiter skin you have the prettier you are. But at the same time, you can't  deny that most of the time it is sunny in Taiwan. The summer last for six months in a year. With the high humidity and temperature, it is more likely that normal people prefer to stay in door with A.C. and want to hide away from the sun since it is just " too much".


 In contrast, in Europe, summer lasts maxim two months. They have heater instead of air-conditioners at home. It is not hard to imagine that when they see the sun, they grab the chance to indulge themselves in the warmth since it's less often seen, especially in a cloudy city like Paris. Also, they view the people with more tanned skin as healthier and prettier. When they are tanned, it means that they are wealthy enough to travel to the south where there's more sun.

How interesting to see the differences in two cultures while knowing it that they share the same concept:  It's more valued when its less seen; it's more cherished, when we don't have it. Exactly the same idea as the business idea nowadays.

I'm just wondering, would it be a day when people can finally cherish what they have and who they are, instead of dyeing their hair blond or black. 

Travelers are everywhere.

See you next time!

My GOFUNDME project:  http://www.gofundme.com/anewcameraforgrace