The way I travel has changed, somehow. Shopping has entirely been replaced with taking pictures and doing research. My
latest Paris trip was no exception, I checked out everything from street art to my current obsessions bike parking and garbage solutions. Stocking my archives with photographic evidence proving that we
can do better in Copenhagen.
The bikes:
In Copenhagen there are only a very few and scattered areas in the residential neighborhoods designated for bike parking, we are forced to leave our bikes on the sidewalk, pressed up against the houses. In Paris they have made space for the bikes in the street. Offering sturdy centered railings that you can properly chain your bike to. A single car space holds about ten bikes. The needs of ten, outweighing the need of one, it makes sense. I'm still holding my breath for the city planners of Copenhagen to embrace that one.
Simple as that.
The trash:
Compared to Copenhagen, Paris is clean and littering is kept to a minimum. If people can't find a place to leave their trash, they will go to great lengths to avoid leaving it on the ground.
It is almost an art form.
And with the smoke-happy French, you would think there were cigarette butts everywhere, right? Not so. Every other house has the butt disposal mounted on the wall. They are all different, leading me to believe that every single house owner have taken responsibility in the matter. If you have an office, and send people outside to smoke, you offer them an ashtray. Which fits my theory that it is all about providing the option to do the right thing.
The street art:
On my first day I spotted these giant footprints. Leading all the way from the metro, down a narrow street and into the small art gallery
Galerie Nivet-Carzon. Recently opened and currently showing street art. At first I was confused, inquiring if it was a "regular" or a street art gallery? The answer was both, of course. Now I feel embarrassed for even making the distinction, ugh.
The group show starred names I was already familiar with, like
Fred le Chevalier, Diamant and Nemi, and introduced me to Lor-K, who creates sculptures out of abandoned stuff she finds in the street. I would give anything to have come across one of her pieces live, but we have to make do with her own pictures:
(Ah, it always feels a little bit like cheating, taking a picture of someone else's picture...)
And since they all shared the small space, a micro contribution made total sense: tiny drawings by Michael Beerens, served with a magnifying glass.
Crazy. Good.
But Paris is one big street art gallery already. There is so much to see in every crack and corner, it is insane and ever changing. Somehow Nemo (and here is where it gets confusing: is Nemo and Nemi the same person?) have become synonymous with Paris to me. Everywhere you look, you find his trace.
As I was taking this picture, a man right behind me projectile vomited. It is all I can think of when I see this picture. Does it work the same for you now?
Haha, sorry. Let me erase that with a nice cat detail.
And Clet Abraham, teaser of traffic signs.
Painted shutters. Can we please get at little wilderness in Copenhagen? Ready, steady, paint!
Groove.
And an OAK1 girl, right next to the metro entrance, apparently inviting people to kill their cigarettes in her mouth. Street art finds yet another use.
Le Cyklop bonanza. Caught in the rain, this was the best I could do, dammit. Imagine if you can, me hovering like the hunchback of Notre Dame, trying to cover my camera from the rain, without obstructing the view. In suede shoes. Yeah, it was not graceful. I'm sorry you had to see that, Paris.

(The end of the longest post ever, haha, I thought I owed you an extra large today.)
♥