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.
AM in NC
The family and I just spent Spring Break in Paris. It was the first time in Europe for my (almost-adult) kids and mon mari. A wonderful time was had by all. We randomly visited between the protests/strikes, and there wasn’t much evidence at all of the actions. Most of these pictures are of details that caught my eye.
This message on a random wall in our neighborhood was one of the few signs we saw of les manifestations: “By 64 years old, 1/3 of our poor are dead”.
Street artist “Invader” (named for the Space Invader pixellated mosaics he began illicitly putting on buildings in Paris over 20 years ago) has work all over the city – around 1,300 and counting.
He was considered something of a vandal at first, but now his work is embraced and beloved. It’s joyful to turn a corner and come upon them. Here is an OG space invader, with some others below.
Q-Bert with some other street artists’ works nearby to take advantage of the eyeballs.
Loved this enormous trompe l’oeil mural (NOT by Invader!)
St. Eustache church. One of my favorites. There was an organ concert taking place when we stopped in, and you could feel in your whole body.
Enormous sculpture of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama outside of the Louis Vuitton HQ – they are doing a collaboration together, apparently. Cant’ see it from this angle, but there are big polka dots of “paint” all across the building’s facade.
Finishing with a few photos of the renovations taking place on the Notre Dame cathedral. Sad not to get to show my kids the inside, but amazed at how quickly the restoration is being done. Humans can be pretty amazing sometimes.
raven
My friends went for a river cruise two weeks ago and had to come home because of the strikes.
Benw
Looks like an awesome trip. It’s a funny coincidence to see Kusama; I’ve been a big fan of her work for years. She did an installation at the NYBG years ago: polka dots and pumpkins everywhere!
eclare
That sculpture of Kusama is amazing!
SkyBluePink
What interesting photos!
Thanks for sharing- looks like a fun trip
MazeDancer
Excellent photos!
pieceofpeace
I like how artwork is spread around for enjoyment, creating delight when unexpectedly coming upon it. Over and over. No knowledge of St. Eustache church before, and it looks lovely, built to be impressive and intimidating, as well
Your pictures show the playful and meaningful combination. Additional ones would be appreciated. Thanks for these.
CindyH
Love these pictures! Post more if you have any? My husband took me to Paris for my 60th birthday in 2018 – so I was able to see Notre Dame before the fire. Paris is now my favorite place ever and I watch every show from the ridiculous to the sublime if it is set in Paris and I get glimpses of the city. I loved other parts of France (Montpelier, Nice, Province) too, yet Paris is deepest in my heart.
WaterGirl
Paris!
WaterGirl
Love the mural of the fellow walking up the steps. I also love the absurdity of the giant polka dot woman.
Jay C
Am I the only one to read that first pic (obviously NOT closely), as an anti-American dig, i. e., “by 64 years, 1/3 of US poor are dead”….?
JaneE
@Jay C: I assume the statistics are correct for France. If it were a dig at the US they would probably use the US full retirement age not theirs. It is hard to look up exactly, but it looks closer to a quarter than a third for the US. (age 67)
Steve in the ATL
Fantastique! We landed there once during a transportation strike. Getting from CDG to our hotel in the city took forever as everyone was driving since the trains and buses weren’t running. Heureusement, their strikes generally last only a day or two and we were cruising the Metro and the RER dans peu de temps.
J R in WV
Great photos, we were in Paris once for just 3 days closing out an AIA tour of ancient history in the Basque country. Notre Dame before the fire. Love the photos of the restoration work ongoing.
Thanks for sharing, more please ?!!!
EthylEster
@Jay C: There is no US. Nous pauvres = we poor (people). Part of “nous” is absent.
Madeleine
@Benw: My spouse and I also appreciate Kusama. I have photos from the time of her installation at NYBG, but mostly of actual pumpkins (and flowers).
Thanks for the unusual views of Paris. We were there before the Notre Dame fire. I especially enjoyed viewing its various sides outdoors. And I finally saw the Sainte Chapelle–a wish since an art history course long ago in college.
Barry
@EthylEster: No, can’t be “nous” b/c of the article “des.” More likely “A 74 ans 1/3 des plus pauvres sont morts”, the poorest ones.
toine
The “us” is from the word “nous” meaning, interestingly in this case, “us” (or we) in English. “our poor” would be “nos pauvres”. So it would be (by meaning) “By age 64, one third of us poors are dead” or “By age 64, one third of we the poor are dead”. Ouch!
Yutsano
Obligatory.