On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
I have truly enjoyed Paris After Dark.
Before we say farewell, here’s one last trip to Paris.
My imaginary trip.
This amazing image is me, practicing my yoga near this iconic tower. I took this fantastic photo with my “delay until I’m at the perfect point for the shot” setting on my camera phone, so it had to be the first photo in my vacation book. (Not really, I just had to pretend for a minute.)
My friend, Dave, the photographer, had this to say: “This image from wag might be my favorite of the entire series. I’m a sucker for reflections, and action shots, and this has both of those going for it. Add in the iconic tower and it really is a stunning image.”
I call him the Thinker. We are kindred spirits.
This is the outdoor cafe where I will spend part of every day. Random dogs will find me and just hang out.
Whenever I am in Paris, it will be Christmas. And springtime, and the weather will be perfect.
I know it’s a cemetery, but I love the feeling of this particular place. Besides, who can go to France without visiting a cemetery?
Even on cloudy days, I love to walk by the water. So peaceful.
No wonder they call it the City of Light. Blue skies, amazing light. I love to walk along the water on days like this.
This is where I stay when I am in Paris. Such a lovely place!
As soon as all these cars leave, we will have the place to ourselves.
There’s nothing like the water at sunset.
Omnes Omnibus
His name is Le Stryge.
Lapassionara
Nooooooo. Not farewell to Paris!
if so, these are fantastic photos. Thank you, Water Girl, and all the observers who sent your photos.
arrieve
I have so enjoyed Paris After Dark. I didn’t always remember to check in before bed, but that just meant I had Paris with my first cup of coffee and double On The Road. It’s been such a bright spot in such a bleak time.
Wherever we go next, I’m up for it.
Obvious Russian Troll
All these shots are great but I love love love the first one.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: It’s nice to know his name. Crazy to feel connected to a stone creature that’s a zillion years old, but I do.
WaterGirl
@Obvious Russian Troll: I know, it is amazing. I can’t believe Wag wants to take credit for it. :-)
For anyone who hasn’t been following Paris After Dark, I should probably say that they are not my photos; they are some of my favorites from the series. This is my imaginary trip to Paris.
I actually feel kind of sad saying goodbye!
Albatrossity
Thank you for this series, and this finale!
cain
Really nice shots! I was in Paris earlier this year, but didn’t really take any great shots. It was winter so basic Paris weather is just like Portland weather.. cloudy with a chance of clouds.
Omnes Omnibus
@cain: Cloudy Paris is still Paris.
WaterGirl
@Albatrossity: It really has been a fun series. Frosty asked me if I knew when I suggested it that it would be that popular.
As I was going through all the Paris After Dark posts, I also looked at the post from Auntie Anne on 7/21, in which I said “maybe we should have Paris Week.”
It looks like I predicted 3 weeks, but it turned out to be 5 weeks! Stretched to 6 on the calendar because we took a week off for the Democratic convention.
I really want to extend a big thank you to everyone who sent in their pics. It’s been really fun and interesting to see all the photos.
WaterGirl
Any more ideas about where to go / what to do next After Dark? I’m kind of hoping we could brainstorm ideas again tonight, in addition to appreciating these gorgeous photos.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@arrieve: Ooooh, that courtyard is so evocative. I missed it the first time round – where do you stay? Is it a hotel or a private apartment?
I miss Paris. So. Much.
Benw
Damn wag, that’s… not what my yoga looks like.
Thx to Watergirl and all the contributors, it’s been a lovely series
Benw
@WaterGirl: hard to top Paris as a destination. Maybe after dark our own communities. Or we could just do Madrid or New Delhi or New York next! :)
WaterGirl
@Comrade Colette Collaboratrice: If you ever want to look at the Paris photos again, they are all in the category called “Paris After Dark”.
Just search for Paris After Dark in the search box (top right) and then find the first post that has Paris After Dark as a category, and click on Paris After Dark.
That will take you to the entire series.
arrieve
@Comrade Colette Collaboratrice: It was a small hotel near the Jardin du Luxembourg.
WaterGirl
@Benw: I agree that Paris is a hard act to follow. I wonder if maybe something completely different would be best. I’m looking forward to hearing more suggestions!
Omnes Omnibus
Well, we have the giant foot for it.
Miss Bianca
I’m thinking London. Or another similarly iconic (non-American) city.
Altho’ speaking of iconic (American) cities…New Orleans would be pretty awesome.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus: Are you thinking of the giant gold foot?
Omnes Omnibus
@WaterGirl: Of course.
WaterGirl
@Omnes Omnibus:
?BillinGlendaleCA
@WaterGirl: Guess I should have sent in my pics from Paris(Disneyland!).
WaterGirl
@?BillinGlendaleCA: I had no idea that existed! (the Paris part)
?BillinGlendaleCA
@WaterGirl: I would think that after the past 5 weeks you’d know Paris exists.
ETA: Snark aside, it was called EuroDisneyland in 1994 when we went, here’s City Hall.
J R in WV
A wonderful time overseas, a place we can’t really travel to right now, which is still amazing to me, that we are currently trapped within the nation.
I guess we could seek asylum as if we were from one of those s**thole countries…
ETA: Loved everyone’s pictures, so many great ones! Thanks to everyone for sharing~!!~
Ruckus
France is on my bucket list, Normandy especially. As much as I didn’t like the politics of the time I signed up, I did so because I felt it was the right thing do and in the end it made me a veteran, pretty much in all the ways one can be. I feel like I have to go.
Have been to Cuba, St. Thomas, Mexico, Canada, Belgium, Norway, Denmark, Greece, Spain – very briefly – unless you count Majorca, Italy – Sicilia was mom’s home heritage, extremely briefly been to the UK – dad was Scotch/Irish with a bit of Native American thrown in. I think mutt is the clinical term.
WaterGirl
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Should have said the Paris part at Disney!
That City Hall looks kind of cheesy. (is that too harsh?) Was it cheesy, or did it feel (kind of) like being there?
donatellonerd
@cain: no, no. even in winter … Paris skies have a thousand shades gray, ranging from silver to ready to storm, and they all go so well with the stone that so many buildings are made of. and actually, the sky is sometimes the deepest blue in winter.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@J R in WV: Right this minute I’m watching the (recorded) last stage of the Tour de France, savoring every loop of the Champs Elysées, which would be a bit dull in other years, and feeling slightly s**thole-y and in need of asylum.
Don’t tell me who won. It’s going to be a surprise!
?BillinGlendaleCA
@WaterGirl: It’s Disneyland, in France…of course it looks cheesy.
At the time there were only 4 Disney parks(Anaheim, Orlando, Tokyo, and Paris); we had visited 3 out of 4.
Mary G
A place that lots of jackals have visited would be nice. It’s so interesting how many different views there are of the same place. Even Saint Chappelle showed a little different facet of it.
Wag
The after dark series has been so much fun. Everyone‘a photos shone in their own way. I especially love the photo for the vines in the courtyard. Very evocative. Thanks everyone for sharing your views of Paris. What a great journey.
And WaterGirl, thanks for your kind words, as well.
Wag
@Comrade Colette Collaboratrice: You’re in for a treat!
WaterGirl
@Wag: You are most welcome!
In case it’s not obvious, the words in quotes were from Albatrossity, and I suspect high praise from Albatrossity is high praise, indeed!
JanieM
@Ruckus:
Can I come too? I’d like to visit at least one of the cemeteries from WWI. My grandfather fought over there, was gassed, and died young (35) at least in part from the ill-health of the aftermath.
I’ve been to Canada, Belgium, Ireland (lots of times), England, Scotland, and Mexico — and I got to spend a month in China when my son was living there: the adventure of a lifetime. Half my grandparents were from around Naples and I’ve never been to Italy, so there’s also that.
I think we’re around the same age…how long is your bucket list, anyhow? ;-
ETA: Forgot, on the Belgium trip (1 month), I also got to spend a weekend in Amsterdam.
Auntie Anne
@Miss Bianca: oooh – NOLA would be good! I still like the favorite places idea – we all have so many wonderful places we can share with each other.
No One of Consequence
@Obvious Russian Troll: I cannot concur heartily enough. I would need a thousand more such hearts. It is just fantastic. If I had taken that shot myself, I would probably stop taking photographs, thinking that I have shot the best one I am ever liable to get, and end it on a high note.
And what a note!
Peace, mad love and respect,
Wag
@WaterGirl: Thanks, too, to Albatrossity. Both of you have done great work with OTR. I am deeply appreciative of the work that both of you do, on the content side, and the construction side.
WaterGirl
@No One of Consequence: Do you remember Wag’s story about how his wife got that shot? (I think it was his wife.)
Ruckus
@JanieM:
I forgot the Netherlands on my list! Now another country to apologize to.
Bucket list is not all that big, first a train ride from Vancouver to Montreal, then down to DC to see the Wall and the Smithsonian museums. Then France, Scotland/Ireland maybe Britain. That’s probably all I can stretch my budget. And it will be a stretch
Company might be rather nice.
Wag
@WaterGirl: you are right that the wife took the shot. She did wonders on it. iPhones can take incredible photos.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Ruckus: Got a friend that’s been talking about going to Hawaii for 20 years, he’s got the funds and the vacay time, never goes, but talks about it. OTOH, the kid decides to go and goes. Just got back from Alaska, loved it.
Ruckus
I like all the beautiful shots of different countries, just because most of the places are vastly different from the US and how we live.
But Wag’s shot, the first one here, that is an amazing shot, that any photographer would be proud of. All the elements are there. Composition, lighting, action, background, foreground. Every element complements the others. Really words can’t do it.
Ruckus
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Uncle sam paid for a lot of my travel so I got to see things on his schedule, but that couldn’t take away from the things I’ve seen and the people I’ve met. We were in Athens, in a shipyard for almost 3 weeks and every day I could I walked to a cafe and sat outside, a block from a building, ruins really, far older than this country, with no fence or guards stopping you from walking up to them and had some sort of desert, from the same serious waiter who wouldn’t even grunt at me. I had people in all parts of Europe hear us speak english and stop and give us directions. You couldn’t hardly even pay some one to do that here
Travel is amazing, I’ve done quite a bit of it in my life, both here and in the countries I’ve mentioned. Many here live lives as in lives of quiet desperation, and can’t imagine that the rest of the world is different. They’ve been told their entire lives that this is the greatest country and everywhere else sucks. It is bullshit of the highest order. Your stepdaughter is smart to travel and observe and realize who we are and what we aren’t.
Damn it, I left out New Zealand as well as the Netherlands.
VeniceRiley
@WaterGirl: Great series *applause* I’ve never been. I hope to go sometime soonish when it’s a short trip across the water! PS all my suggestions for future were just ideas- not strong opinions
PS that first shit kicks *ss!
JanieM
@Ruckus: Gotta hope the pandemic wall comes down before I, at least, am too old to take advantage of it. My budget doesn’t stretch all that far either…and I’m not as adaptable (to e.g. hostels) as I was when I was younger. We’ll see, I guess.
As Jerry Taff used to say every night when closing out the late news on TV when I lived in Milwaukee: Better tomorrows.
WaterGirl
@VeniceRiley: I am really happy that you and others are posting ideas!
I think the best decisions are made when lots of people toss ideas into the ring.
WaterGirl
@VeniceRiley: Do you mean first pic?
Ruckus
@JanieM:
Only stayed in one hostel my entire life and that was owned by a school I paid to attend to learn how to build custom bicycles. A hoot living with a bunch of people some of whom were half my age. The second week was a girls mechanics class and half the hostel was filled with girls. Really a lot of fun that hostel. That was 15 yrs ago and I fit in fine. Of course I wasn’t geezer age then……
BigJimSlade
@WaterGirl: BIG UPS for WG!!!!
BigJimSlade
@WaterGirl: Well I’ve already sent in Yosemite pictures, I didn’t know I should save them!
Alps? Rome? Anything (ie., any themes) from Africa? I would recommend east Asia, but I don’t have anything from there ;-)
WaterGirl
@BigJimSlade: Our crystal balls are on the fritz!
WaterGirl
It’s bedtime for me.
Thanks again, everyone, for Paris!
randy khan
@Miss Bianca:
New Orleans would be awesome.
The first time I went there I was a teenager and I wasn’t impressed. But then I came back as an adult, and realized it’s a fantastic city.
There go two miscreants
I was happy to contribute and really enjoyed seeing everyone else’s pictures! It was a great idea. A big thank-you to WaterGirl for organizing it all!
arrieve
@Ruckus: I always say that learning to travel alone is the best gift I ever gave myself. It made me so much braver than I was when I was young, and that applies to every part of my life. And I’ve met and talked to people all around the world, even people in scary, evil places like Iran (/s) and found that, surprise, they’re all pretty much human beings like us. And that some places (Scandinavia, for example) do much better in things that Americans delude themselves we lead the world on.
I’m up for any suggestions for OTR After Dark. I like the idea of keeping it to the great cities of the world; we have a lot of parks and scenery in the morning OTR. I’d love to see some of the cities I’ve never seen — Buenos Aires, or Bangkok, just off the top of my head. And I have pictures of many others — Sydney, Istanbul, Hong Kong.
WaterGirl
Maybe a series for each continent?
WaterGirl
Suggestions from this thread:
Our own communities
Madrid or New Delhi or New York
I’m thinking London. Or another similarly iconic (non-American) city.
Altho’ speaking of iconic (American) cities…New Orleans would be pretty awesome.
A place that lots of jackals have visited would be nice.
Alps?
Rome?
Anything from Africa?
Individual continents?
Wag
@WaterGirl: Barcelona is nice and photogenic
but I like the idea of national parks. Maybe start with Yellowstone?