Streets of Paris

Below are street scenes we took yesterday and today.  It's always interesting to observe how cities are laid out, how traffic moves through it (marked lanes appear to be merely "guidelines" for the buses, taxis and cars bustling down these streets), and what Parisians and tourists are doing.

Maxim's and a motorcyclist -- one of the many ways

to get around in Paris and scare pedestrians!

Street signs.

There is a lot of iron scrollwork in Paris -- this is a tiny sample.  I can see why the Eiffel Tower was so well received by the Parisians.  It is the biggest iron scrollwork ever made!

Gas pumps seem to appear out of nowhere -- we don't know why they aren't a major source of traffic problems!  We observed one car driver stop, leap out, pump gas, and keep driving down the road.

The Champs-Elysees is a beautiful avenue featuring the Arc de Triomphe. 

This same avenue is filled with many well-known international stores and many people from all over the world shopping all at once!

Mark just loves these funny little cars -- there are all sorts of small, squashed cars everywhere!

On these narrow streets, small and squashed seems like a good idea.

 

I should have taken tons more photos of the cafes. 

They are large, outdoor and every where -- on almost every block! 

Bustling, busy tourists and Parisians can stop anytime for a break.

Everywhere we go, there are warnings about pickpockets! There are street signs, posters, notices in museums and stores, and even loudspeakers warn patrons to guard their belongings from pickpockets.

So, we are very careful wherever we go.

 

Tomorrow -- Versailles.