Watching the World Go By….

Here’s another very entertaining post from The Paris Corespondent, Shirley Riley. Here are the links to her other posts.

Guest Blogger – The Paris Corespondent

Paris is a ‘Spatial’ Place

This is NOT a COVER UP…

I recall a saying I heard long before coming to Paris—that if you were to sit long enough at an outdoor cafe on the Champs Elysées, someone you knew would undoubtedly stroll by. While that seems a bit of a stretch, I suppose it is entirely possible—if one were to sit long enough. Where I lived prior to moving here, I would dart from one place to another to run errands (and usually in a car) going through a checklist of life for that day. In France, when not having to do what must get done—one chills, relaxes, sips whatever hot or cold drink is on order—and simply watches the world go by. And there are a lot of places in France to do just that—

Cafes—of course, there are always cafes! Whatever the weather, some intentionally organize front row seating so patrons face outward to watch passing foot traffic.

Wherever you are, wherever you go, there is always some place to rest and watch the world go by; some comfortable, others not so much—but each offers a spot to relax and unwind. If you happen to be independently wealthy and live in a penthouse on the Rive Gauche you can enjoy a rooftop terrace view like this (but I’m not quite sure you’d see a lot passing by except for planes and pigeons…)

However, no worries: parks are everywhere in France, both big and small, providing places where one can sit for hours —whether on a park bench or conveniently movable chairs.

Why, even an old tree offers a spot to rest and become part of nature.

There are even stone walls (some with built in seating) lining the Seine and various waterways. All provide perfect spots to decompress and check out one’s surroundings.

Of course, seating is not limited to parks or stone walls along the Seine. There are numerous places to just stop and while away the time. While Parisian parks offer classy wooden and iron benches, opportunities to ‘park oneself’ also appears here and there along the roadside and in unexpected places; some pristine, some in more dodgy parts of town, some grubby with graffiti or pigeon poop. Sometimes you can even find a bench in the midst of cafe tables.

One might be less relaxed on some inexplicably uncomfortable stone benches, but hey—c’est la vie!

Throughout France you can find all types of unusual seating for those quiet moments of reflection. Here are a few of them….

Whether seated as a paying patron or relaxing on the free real estate of anyplace providing a perch— people sit to munch or muse or simply check out passersby. Some are engaged in beautifully capturing the moment with a camera like Tricia of travelthroughmylens.com or with a pen or paint brush as in this photo of theTravelsketcher of peninkandpaint.com seen here sketching at a cafe in the south of France.

On a personal note, during what should be ‘chill time’ I have noted an increasing number of people of all ages checking their phones rather than the world around them. Oblivious, many indulge in selfies with unnatural wide-eyed poses and lips parted and pursed. My wish is that following a satisfactory selfie, the vanity of these ultra social media/Facebook types fades as they open their eyes to SEE what is before them and not just capture a screenshot of the world hiding behind the pose.

And then there are always those who dominate the best spots. Case in Point: Rodin’s ‘The Thinker’ in the garden at the Rodin Museum. Deep in thought, he clearly has no intention of moving.

And of course there are the professional types engaged in watching the world pass by. Specifically—Gargoyles. From high perches on cathedrals and monuments these stone security guards keep a careful watch all over France—and in Paris in particular. Of course, it is their job—so enough said about gargoyles.

SO…enjoy a break with a friend, a lover, a stranger, or in solitude—and please forgive my ‘Google French’— se détendre (relax), passer du temps de manière informelle (hang out), or just ‘zoner’ (hang aimlessly). Pull up a chair, sit on a rock (or a tree branch), park yourself on a bench, but do be aware that no matter how nice the area, the pigeons may have been there before you. Survey the world around you.

It will be worth it….Ahhh….

Thank you Shirley, for this delightful post! As always, we’d love to hear from you so feel free to leave a comment.