Eiffel Tower from the Pompidou Center. I think the best view of the Eiffel Tower is not from the Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars or the Ecole Militaire, but from the Montparnasse Tower on the other side of the city (to the south of the Eiffel Tower). However, I was pleasantly surprised to find to an equally interesting view from the top floor of the Pompidou Center on a rainy Parisian day. I took a series of shots (this is one of the last) of the Eiffel Tower in the distance as the rain subsided and the clouds cleared that made it appear as if the tower was under construction like it was from 1887 to 1889 (first shot: everything but the base is obscured, succeeding shots: more and more of the tower is revealed, final shots: the tower in all it’s glory!). It’s the reason I gave this particular image that old, antique photo treatment. I’ll try to post the “under construction” series later.

Trafalgar Square Fountains, London

Where Did All the Pigeons Go?! Trafalgar Square, London. I remember a lot more pigeons the last time I visited Trafalgar Square, perhaps it was the season (summer instead of fall). Trafalgar Square is one of my favorite spots in all of London, there’s just so much energy, from the fountains to the horde of people to the drone and rumblings of the London cabs and double-deck buses weaving around the area (it’s like a big rotunda/roundabout) and Lord Admiral Nelson on his tall column overlooking it all. This time around I was drawn to the spraying fountains. It’s a great place to decompress before or after your visit to the National Gallery (upper right)… I just realized, I don’t remember seeing any bird seed salesmen!

Where Did All the Pigeons Go?! Trafalgar Square, London. I remember a lot more pigeons the last time I visited Trafalgar Square, perhaps it was the season (summer instead of fall). Trafalgar Square is one of my favorite spots in all of London, there’s just so much energy, from the fountains to the horde of people to the drone and rumblings of the London cabs and double-deck buses weaving around the area (it’s like a big rotunda/roundabout) and Lord Admiral Nelson on his tall column overlooking it all. This time around I was drawn to the spraying fountains. It’s a great place to decompress before or after your visit to the National Gallery (upper right)… I just realized, I don’t remember seeing any bird seed salesmen!

The Musee D’Orsay contains some of the best (subjectively speaking ofcourse LOL) art of the mid-19th and early (very early) 20th century (one of my favorite periods) ; that mostly means “Impressionism” by the likes of Manet, Monet,Cezzane, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Renoir and Degas. I was ecstatic to discover that one of my favorite van Gogh paintings, “The Siesta”, was on display that day. So it was a surprise to me that one of my more memorable images (lasting impressions if you will *groan*) of the Orsay was found outside, of Parisian city views, through a clock! I couldn’t get closer because the area was cordoned off, so I had to rely on my telephoto lens to try and help me capture the spectacular views (with varying degrees of success). This is an image of Sacre Couer in the distance through that clock in the Orsay.

The steps of Sacre Couer in Montmarte offers a welcome respite and a marvelous view from Paris’ highest point. Montmarte is an eclectic neighborhood of tourists, artists and peddlers (selling gaudy souveneirs, affordable paintings and overpriced pastries and crepes!).

The steps of Sacre Couer often play as center stage to street performers. Tourists enjoy the view while listening to engaging music.

A bride makes her way up the steps of Sacre Coeur amid a throng of tourists. Sometimes it’s difficult to remember (or is it “easy to forget”?) that many of Europe’s tourist’s sites are working, functional institutions; Sacre Couer is a Catholic church urging tourists to please keep quiet, dress appropriately (no hats!) and respect the locals who are using the much-visited church as a place of worship.

A street performer serenading tourists on the steps of Sacre Coeur. Even as you jostle your way around Sacre Couer and Montmarte with thousands of other tourists, the street performers: mimes, singers, and painters, still manage to get your attention… and put you in the appropriate mood (in this case romance) to enjoy Paris in your own unique way. (Singer is actually pretty good, he received 1Euro from me).