Perhaps you’ve heard lately that Paris is experiencing some record levels of pollution, or “un pic de pollution”. As a measure to get people to make use of public transportation instead of everyone taking his or her own car as many like to do, the government has offered several days of free transportation within Île de France. With my current little studio apartment in the 10th arrondissement, I have a lovely view of about half of the Eiffel Tower. You can imagine how odd it was a couple of days ago when I woke up in the morning and couldn’t see the Tower at all through all the smog. Without being overly dramatic about it, I must say there is a certain level of World War Z-fright from it at times. And yet, life in Paris seems to be continuing on… people are still driving (albeit circulation alternée), smokers are still lighting up, and the café seats are still full on all these sunny days.

Paris sunset Falling Off Bicycles

December sunset

This photo was taken last December from Place de la Concorde on a beautiful evening with an incredible sunset. I’m sure there was plenty of pollution in the air that day, but at least the burning sky hid the evidence.