Splat Paris, France 2013

I find this image interesting in a Jackson Pollock kind of way, but it also has an oddity that makes it quite curious. There are a number of shoe prints in paint heading out of the spill, which makes sense if people walked into it without looking somehow. But why are there bare foot prints in paint leading towards the spilled paint? Was somebody walking barefoot backwards down the sidewalk? If so, I guess they’d have the perfect excuse for not seeing the spill.]]>

The Investigation Paris, France 2013

Our town of Bozeman, Montana is the most dog crazy place I’ve lived, but of the large cities I’ve visited Paris has to be the most dog crazy. I don’t know how the dogs per capita numbers work out compared to Bozeman, but Parisians are no slackers on that dimension. This makes it easy to entertain your dogs when you take them out for a walk–there’s so much sign to read from other dogs having passed by there’s never a dull moment.]]>

Lectio #40 Paris, France 2013

A little rain, a little chilly weather; what’s that matter when you’ve got your smart phone to distract you?]]>

Lectio #39 Paris, France 2013

A local businessman reviewing some papers in the La Défense area of Paris. This area mostly consists of a lot of newer high-rise office buildings with a nice wide pedestrian boulevard down the middle, with a view towards the Arc de Triumph off in the distance. There are many sitting areas in the boulevard and a number of sculptures sprinkled throughout. This set of swings was unique in it was the only functional piece of artwork that we saw. At least it seemed to be both art and play equipment.]]>

Lectio #36 Paris, France 2013

Catching up on their reading on a chilly but sunny day in Luxembourg Gardens.

]]>

Lectio #35 Paris, France 2013

Not much of a view but at least he’s got a window office.

]]>

Afternoon Nap Paris, France 2013

At first I thought this guy was sick or otherwise in trouble because he was fairly nicely dressed (e.g. in a shearling leather coat) yet laying in the middle of the sidewalk.  But on close inspection he appeared to be just sound asleep so I left him alone. Perhaps he was laying in the middle of the sidewalk because there was a grate there that may have been putting out warm air. Another odd thing was that although he had a bag of some sort right behind him, he didn’t use it as a pillow. Perhaps he was inebriated or high on something and was just sleeping it off. The whole scene was yet another reminder that I just don’t understand a lot of things about life in France.]]>

Sail Away Paris, France 2013

On weekends this pool, the Grand Basin,  in the Luxembourg Gardens is full of toy sailboats rented to kids. The boats are not radio controlled; they are propelled by the breeze and steered by long poles that are issued with the boats. But there are also some adults with more adult sized toy boats who are into the sport as well. These guys took advantage of a considerably less busy weekday to get in some quality sailing time.]]>

Walk, Don’t Walk Paris, France 2013

A night scene from the Rue de Rivoli.

 ]]>

Artist at Work Paris, France 2013

An artist at work in his studio in Montmartre. His studio is near Place du Tertre and from the look of the kinds of work he was painting he may well have been one of the artists who sell their work to tourists on the Place. It seemed like he had good technique but no soul originality in his work (says Zippy the art critic).

]]>