Hôtel de Ville

Warm tones of sunlight on stone walls. One of my favorite things about Paris.

Champs Elysées Clémenceau metro station

This morning in the Metro station, there was an old man busking. He was playing the violin. He wasn’t playing from memory, nor did he have a stand with sheet music in front of him, a woman (his wife?) was standing near him, holding the sheet music up to his eyes, turning the pages as he played.

Who are they ? Is this a hobby, something a retired musician does to pass the time, or do they live off the coins thrown in the violin case by commuters in a hurry ? What was the woman thinking as the crowd swirled around them, was she content to be there, standing by her man, watching him, listening to him ? Did she wish she could get on one of the passing trains and go somewhere, anywhere else and do something different with her morning ? Her face gave nothing away.

Quai d'Orleans

Hôtel de Ville

We're spoiled with not one but two interesting photo exhibitions at the Hôtel de Ville, no entrance fee (merci Bertrand!)

Willy Ronis à Paris, Monday through Saturday 10 to 7, except bank holidays, until May 27th.

Paris au cinéma, same days and times, until June 30th.