I’ve always loved Paris in the Winter when the days are mostly grey and night falls quickly. I stumbled upon this photo by Rita Crane and not only did her photograph capture me, but also her words both in French and in English. I could not have said it better. Thank you Rita for this special moment.

“Along the quais by the river, one sees another Paris…..and this scene stole my heart. The lone woman and her dear little companion were out for a walk after the rain, like so many Parisians who have their special places where they enjoy walking in this remarkable city that is their home. It offers so many different atmospheres from the spectacular monuments, to the everyday glimpses of ordinary life….in an extraordinary environment.

The lone woman with her dog are icons of Paris. I pay homage to them! The old woman of Paris….she holds within her heart the memories of the past ….the pulse of ordinary everyday city life. She has walked miles to the little epiceries, the charcuteries, the cremeries, the bistros, to her favorite boulangeries…..for decades, spinning a web of relationships and activities that are interconnected, from her own microcosm — to the macrocosm of the city -and beyond.

Une vieille petite dame qui promene son chien loyale ….. une scene si typique de la vrai vie quotiedienne a Paris. Cette personne toute seul comme cela — dans son univers prive’ … son microcosm prive’ …. avec son vieux petit companion m’a touche’ losque je me promenais sur le Quai des Orfevres au bord de la Seine, enface de cette vue. Ces deux Parisiens - clairement amis depuis longtemps - se sont rendus regulierement chez les marchands du voisinage depuis toujours. Pendant encore une autre parmi les miliers des petites balades quotidiennes qu’ils tracent tranquilment, peut-etre tristement - leur pas font des files qui les lient comme dans une toile, avec le macrocosm de Paris et du monde.”

Photo Credit: Rita Crane

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