New Year’s Day in Paris feels like a good day to be flopped on the sofa watching videos. But this is Paris, so it’s out to explore the city. Wandering around the 16th, I pass by the Palais de Tokyo. It’s one of those buildings that has never really ‘worked’, and needs night lighting to bring it to life. In the cold afternoon light, the graffiti and status as a defacto urinal is all too apparent. It does however have some interesting stonework facing the Seine.
New Year’s Day in Paris is pretty much the same as Christmas Day…many bakeries, cafes and restaurants are open, along with florists and a smattering of other small shops, but the majority of supermarkets and larger boutiques are closed. The Laduree on the Champs Elysees has a queue of people waiting for entrance.
It’s raining by early evening, and it’s a good evening to walk along Rue St Honore, given most of the shops are closed. The little Sony is working hard under the poor conditions – raining with the occasional wind gust moving the decorations around. The wet pavements are great though for the additional reflections and character that they bring to the images.
The Hermes windows are a clear winner though – flamingos and a jungle setting showcasing their handbags…
