Sunday, December 20, I'm in Paris for three days. Helped Bibi, we were hunting the Koala Jones. We were able to capture by trapping the output of 7 Star Wars film.
We start around 15.30 and because the travel time, we arrive Republic Square with the beginning of night (normal, it is winter and the night falls so early).
I wanted to come here to honor the victims of the attacks. There were a few people while goshawks of the memorial, many recollected themself, some put a candle, others were
taking photos.
The attacks of 13 November which took place in Paris (in 6 cafés and restaurants ''Le Carillon'', ''Le Petit Cambodge'', ''Casa Nostra'', ''Café Bonne Bière'',
''La Belle Équipe'' and ''Comptoir Voltaire''. At the Stade de France and the Bataclan.) were the first suicide attacks on French soil. There were 129 dead and 352
wounded the same night, 99 injured in absolute emergency. One of the injured died elsewhere a few days later, bringing the balance to 130 dead and 351 injured
(and 7 terrorists killed, some being detonated, others killed by the BRI or BAC).
A bit like for Oradour
, I wanted to come recollect me here because, like many people, I was touched.
On site, the sun is already a little lying and candles are already many in this light (and public lighting). We had forgotten to take to deposit here, but several
people occupant of the place offer candles to people. I about to say that unfortunately I have not lighter on me to light, the person cut me by telling me not to
worry, the candles are free ... I think she misunderstood what I meant ... After finishing my sentence she told me that I can just use the candles already lit.
Obviously ... but I had to think too!
All goshawks of the statue, there are lots of candles, drawings, texts, posters, flags, poems. Many speak of strength, that terrorists do not scare their that
France (and the whole civilized world) is stronger than the terrorists. There is a lot of support messages to the families of victims and promoting peace.
The service of Paris archives handles scan (to protect the text and images so that people can freely see later) in order to keep track. But it is an almost
continual work because since the attacks, people from the whole world come to lay tributes every day.
By the time we go around and some photos, the night is falling. Also, to change us some ideas and do our second project of the evening, we head to the Champs Elysées with
its decorations. Along the way several stops for pictures, funny pictures or simply nice.
We take the metro to our destination, within an alcoholic tramp found funny to urinate on it as he wallowed in his seat. The smell and puddle forward or backward depending on
the subway route is to move people who are hurling abuse at passing through the human wreckage. At one stop up a Romanian beggar barefoot on everything that flows passengers
(sometimes literally) to ask for their money. Passing near the bum, it triggered hostilities and the one and the other insult copiously much like a fight between two pokemon ...
Finally, our stop is there, we go down while in the subway car, it's always a mess in between ... We come next to the statue of General de Gaulle, as military seem monitor.
Wanting to reassure them, I told one of them that my bag contains only my camera equipment. He replied ''no worries, as long as you don't shoot us.' It's been that I had not
heard that expression in photos... I want to thank all the military and security forces who are doing their best to ensure the security of the country.
We passe next to the ''Petit Palais''...
then in front of the Clémenceau's statue...
before arriving in the middle of the Champs-Élysées's Christmas market where there is a Santa Claus in his sled that flying over the peoples (it's not a fake, it's a real person !).
The Christmas market on the Champs-Elysees has 40 artisans of Arts, 180 cottage and 30 stands and a skating rink, a haunted house and various other attractions and rides as well as many
ephemeral restaurant, oyster bar, champagne, of tearooms... in the past year the market has received over 15 million visitors and hope to do better this year.
Framing the Christmas market on the one hand the Big Wheel and the Obelisk :
And on the other, at bottom, the Arc de Triomphe:
Seeking a subway entrance, we cross a shopping mall where there
are huge statues of dogs and Christmas decorations. Next door, we take a small cake for a treat (a lemon tart and an elongated chocolatine).
En route to join our RER, we pass on a bridge, with the illuminated Eiffel Tower not far away.
We stay there for a while, it's not too cold, enjoying the show.
And here we are in the RER, the small cake tasted, we're going home. I'll stay over until Tuesday in Paris, then back to Brive, Koala in my luggage,
well tied so he'll not fled again.
Thank Bibi and her family and Melanie for selling Luke at the price of Kylo (and everything else) and Cyril for delirium at the exit of the movies.