Paris in August

It's dead.  No kidding.  Except for tourists, and people who work in the tourist trade, this town is dead.  Lots of Brits (sunburn gives them away), and lots of Americans around (loud voices, fanny packs, baseball caps, photojournalist vests on the older ones for some reason).  Everyone at home thinks we're making this stuff up.  But we're really not kidding.  This photo was taken on a workday at 4PM.  Just stepped out on the balcony, and pointed the camera down the street.  There is nobody around.  No foot traffic. Limited vehicular traffic.  Millions of people leave the French cities for August. 

Empty Street

You may not be able to tell, but most of the stores on the street are shuttered or closed.  The bakery, the jeweler, the bagel baker, the creperie (that's the blue storefront on the corner - it's mentioned in Rick Steve's latest book), the Chinese restaurant, the bar kitty corner, the other bar, and the real estate office are all closed.  That is all in just one block. 

Almost every window sign says they'll reopen on the 25th of August. Everyone reouvertures (reopens) on the 25th.  They had over 350 miles of backups last week all over France when everyone left all the cities.  Wonder if they back up again coming home? 

Looking the other way toward the really thriving Oberkampf neighborhood, besides the bus (number 96 - quatre vangt dix six - 4 twenties ten six) there is hardly any traffic at all.  4PM.  Workday.  Paris is the most densely populated city in Europe.  Nobody.  There is nobody here.  Isn't this odd?  If you don't go to any tourist neighborhoods, you have most of the city to yourself (or yourselves).  It's like a movie.  Oh wait, that kind of movie ends poorly for everyone concerned.  Ouch.  

Now Look the Other Way

 

Comments

[Aurélien]

[c’est top] It is true, it will be the same back up when people get back. But more relaxed I guess.A tip: 96 is even more complicated than you thought, it's quatre-vingt-seize (four twenties sixteen).

I love Paris when it's quiet like this, especially the non-touristy places, it feels like being backstage in Disneyland.