When I traveled overseas for work, which I tended to do at least a few times a year, we generally stayed in U.S. chain hotels, most often run by Marriott. Those hotels are predictable and easily identifiable—from a distance you know immediately that they are hotels.
The dark green door in the center of this image is the entrance to the apartment where I am spending the three weeks that I am in Paris. The entrance is so nondescript that it doesn’t even have a street number indicated and you might think at first that it is associated with one of the adjacent stores.
For the last 25 years I have lived in a townhouse community in one of the Virginia suburbs of Washington D.C. and essentially nothing is in walkable distance. Here in Paris, once I descent the 96 stairs that I profiled earlier, I am in the midst of the action. Rue Montorgueil, the street on which the apartment is located, is a bustling pedestrian area in the center of the city with lots of shops, cafés, and restaurants. It can get a little noisy, but from the sixth floor, the sound levels are tolerable.
Who are my neighbors? On one side, there is a wine store called Le Repaire de Bacchus (The Den of Bacchus) and on the other side there is a gourmet tea store called Mariage Frères (Mariage Brothers). I was initially confused by the name, because the two words don’t seem to go together. Was the store founded to celebrate the individual nuptials of the brothers or were they married to each other? As it turns out, “Mariage” was the family name of the founders. According to Wikipedia, Mariage Frères Tea Company was founded on 1 June 1854 by brothers Henri and Edouard Mariage.
As for the photo, I am pleased with the way that I was able to capture the light and, in particular, the reflections on the wet pavement. The image has a part of the urban vibe that I have been enjoying so much here in Paris. It makes me wonder what it would be like to live in a place like Paris long-term.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I enjoyed scrolling all around the large-size image. Beautiful lighting, colour and detail … I could see so far into the Little Italy restaurant!
Thanks, Liz. I deliberately try to post somewhat larger images so folks are able to look at details. I know what I attracted my eye in a scene, but it is always fascinating to learn what others like you were able to see. Our individuality causes us to look at photos and to react to them in different ways. Sometimes I can tell that people will react positively if a photo is conventionally beautiful (like a sunset), but I can never be sure how they will react to something that is a bit quirky or what I would characterize as unconventionally beautiful.
That’s a stunning photo, Mike. I love the light.
Enjoying your Paris pictures. We loved living in Europe in the 1990s. It’s one of the things that keeps us traveling. Your images from Paris take me back to Paris, as well as memories in Szolnok, Budapest, Vienna, and other cities that were regulars for us.
Thanks. Each city has individual characteristics, but there is a charm and a “soul” in older European cities that is so enticing, something that you just don’t find very often in US cities.
Uh-oh, do I hear hints that you might become an ex-pat? 😉 It’s hard not to fantasize about such when visiting a beautiful spot like Paris.
I’ve thought about it and have looked a bit into it. Each country has different rules regarding foreigners in terms of length of stay and ability to own property. I know that some websites consider other parts of France to be a good place to retire. It’s not as cheap as some other parts of the world, but there are some amenities that might be lacking in more primitive places. There are all kinds of practical reasons that would argue against it, but it might be cool to do it for three to six months. 🙂
Go for it! 🙂
…live long term. There is only one way to find out 😀
This image has a really nice, mellow feel, Mike.
Thanks, Chris. This whole Parisian trip has had a really nice, mellow feel to it and I am glad I was able to capture that in the image.