167/365 (Explored) - a photo on Flickriver

167/365 (Explored)

            Thursday 3rd March 2011. What a fantastic day - thank you, Paris! It's been one of those days where I kept having moments of "wow, I actually live here!"

As usual I finished work at 11.30. Mum and Christine weren't due to arrive at Gare du Nord until 1.45, which didn't really give me enough time to go home for lunch, so instead I went for a walk around Paris, making the most of a gloriously sunny day. I went to Madeleine, primarily because it's an area of Paris I've never really spent much time in. I photographed l'eglise de la Madeleine, before grabbing a baguette and making my way down streets lined with designer shops which I will never be rich enough to even set foot inside of. It's always interesting to see this side of Paris - how the other half live. As I strolled past Rolex, Cartier, Tiffany and Co, Dior and Chanel I was incredibly conscious of how common I looked eating a baguette in the street. It's a different world over there. The air smells of expensive perfume and buzzes with the soft engine purr of Rolls Royces and sleek, black Mercedes. I stood for a while in the square outside The Ritz, people-watching. It was such a stark contrast to the Paris I know so well and to my own everyday experiences of the city. It's hard to believe it's even part of the same city as the scruffy 13eme, where I work.

I made my way towards Concorde and strolled through Tuileries for a while, stopping for a few quick snaps of the Eiffel Tower and the Grand Palais in the distance. Eventually I found myself on the Pont de la Concorde. From this bridge, on a day as clear and sunny as today, you can see Notre Dame, l’Assemblée Nationale, the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais, Concorde, Madeleine, Tuileries, the Louvre and the Sacre Coeur. I stood there for ages, slowly roating 360 degrees, along the entire length of the bridge, soaking it up and taking photos. 

Just after one o'clock I set off for Gare du Nord. I met mum and Christine and we headed to their hotel, right by the Eiffel Tower, so they could check in. Then we went to St Michel and joined the queue for the towers of Notre Dame. By the time we got up the beautiful blue sky had more or less disappeared into this far less attractive haze. Nevertheless, I got plenty of photos that I was pleased with and I discovered it's free for under 26s from the EU, so I can go back when the sky's blue again! After the 400 steps up and down the towers, we went for dinner at Le Paradis du Fruit, including a truly fantastic pudding of fruit, cream, icecream and sorbet. Sadly, then it was back home to rest my weary feet and plan lessons for Friday. Paris would be far more enjoyable if work didn't keep getting in the way!

EXPLORED - #47

Taken in: France / Île-de-France / Paris / Les Iles (show map)

Taken on: March 3, 2011

Tags:

Paris

project 365

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Sets appears in: • My favourites • Paris - ALL more » • Project 365 • Paris touristique • Most interesting • Explored « less

Groups appears in: • The Photographer's Club • Nikon Digital more » • Paris • UK Flickr users • France image • Eiffel Tower • Paris, Quartier Latin • Notre-Dame de Paris • Paris Churches / Eglises parisiennes • Nikon DSLR Users • Project 365 • Paris B&W (rules apply) • Paris Photobloggers • I love Paris in the Spring Time • PARIS, JE T'AIME • Paris! • Project 365! • Paris J'adore • PARIS - ROMANTIC CITY • Paris, City of Lights / Ville Lumière • Paris en Photo • Nikon D40 Worldwide • "Unlimited Photos: No Rules" • Eiffel Tower Collections • British Photographers • Greatest Cities: Paris • Tour Eiffel / Eiffel Tower / Eiffelturm • Paris Geotagged • Beautiful France / La Belle France • UK amateur photographers • Paris PhotoShooters United • Paris city of light • Paris urban landscape « less

Camera: Nikon D40, f/4.2, 1/4000 sec, 28mm (=42mm), ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D40
Aperture:	f/4.2
Exposure Time:	1/4000 sec
Focal Length:	28mm (35mm equivalent: 42mm)
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Fine Weather
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Contrast:	Low
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS3 Windows
Show full info

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