Photo Essay – Paris In Black And White

Tourists often photograph this famous arch in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe honors those who died fighting for France. With the vast amounts of vehicle and human traffic, an uncluttered picture is hard to attain.

Luxembourg Palace sits majestically in Luxembourg Gardens. Originally constructed at the behest of a former king’s widow, it’s now an overly pretty legislative building.

There are many statues permanently living in Luxembourg Gardens. This is ‘the actor’ as he’s wearing a mask over his head and getting ready to be a good thespian.

One mask isn’t enough for this guy. This is the Merchant of Masks statue. He poses for my picture as he holds the face of Victor Hugo, a famous French poet.

There I was, surrounded by angry horses. I distracted them by throwing some sugar cubes, and managed to escape. My life, and theirs, will never be the same again. Okay, not the truth, but way more exciting.

I’ve lived in both Italy and the French part of Belgium. I will now speak some uncomfortable facts. Italian wine is better than French, but cappuccinos are better in France. Deal with it.

These three women happily greet you as you begin your tour of the Louvre. The frequent flashes of nakedness balance out all the religious art in this museum.

What a picture. It reminds me of those shots of a duck riding on the back of an alligator, or seagulls on whales. When it comes to art I’m not the biggest fan of paintings, but the statues in the Louvre are special.

When it comes to history, I find that older is better. This mural from the 6th century BC depicts Persian archers, and reminds us that military might has always been a key component of empires.

I typically love street art, but admittedly this isn’t the best piece. Set somewhere between the Louvre and Notre Dame, it offered a brief distraction from all the ugly construction work that was going on.

Tourists overrate the Eiffel Tower as a can’t miss attraction. If you must, however, have a friend one level down take a shot of you as the tower winds upwards. Great pic.

Some of the best Eiffel Tower pictures are from the grounds surrounding the tower. Practice your selfie skills and try to get a unique shot. Here I stare down the tower in the prelude to a heavyweight match.

There is a direct one hour train from Paris to Disney. Black and white photos of amusement parks can be cool or creepy, and this one is both. My wife is cool, but those things around her are creepy.

This was by far the ugliest Frenchman I’ve ever seen. Eligible ladies beware, the Buzz Lightyear ride at Disney isn’t the place to meet men.

It’s a small world? This Disney attraction has a bizarre song and a message I don’t agree with. It’s actually a really big world, with tons of diversity and amazing things to cram into your lifetime.

I passed by this adorable pig as I perused a Parisian market. How could I eat such a cute thing? Maybe I would picture the Stalinist pig from ‘Animal Farm’ as I pigged out.

The Place de la Republique boasts a statue that represents the ideals of the French Republic – liberty, equality and fraternity. It’s also a short walk from Harry’s Bar, where the Bloody Mary was invented.

PSG is one of the top football squads in the world. They have an impressive team store on Champs Elysees, arguably the most famous shopping street in Europe.

It’s not surprising that Winston Churchill is memorialized here. Despite his politically incorrect mouth and lack of social grace towards his critics, he helped to repel the Nazis from Paris.

Introducing Saint Denis. He was a Christian martyr who, after being decapitated, carried his head while preaching a sermon on repentance. This legend is immortalized at the Notre Dame Cathedral.