Oil on cardboard – 9,5 x 12 inch – Unique work

The Place de la Concorde is undoubtedly the biggest square in Paris.

It is located at the bottom of the Champs-Elysées to connect them to the Tuileries gardens. In the other direction, you have the Madeleine Church at the end of Rue Royale and crossing the Seine is the Palais Bourbon.

On this huge square, there are, among other things, eight female statues representing eight French cities. And just like that, I chose Rouen which has the particularity of offering a view of the Eiffel Tower, behind the trees.

When you’re a pedestrian, this square is very annoying because crossing it is quite a journey. Impossible not to respect the traffic lights. It is well known that French drivers absolutely never stop on a pedestrian crossing unless they have to when the light is red. So be careful! You have to go around, it’s the safest thing to do.

When you’re a driver, this place is unbearable, except in the middle of the night! Traffic jams are ongoing. It honks, it gets angry, it rushes, it hits… In short, a place banned for those with less than a year’s license. When I was young, a long time ago, I drove by this square every day. So I know it so well. And it is experience speaking, well writing, to be more accurate.

Yet I’m never tired of this place. As soon as I go there, now it’s exclusively by metro, I always discover a new place, a new point of view. Lately, the construction works, for I don’t know what new layout for the 2024 Olympic Games, is polluting the landscape a little but it’s for the best I hope. I also like to pass in front of the Hôtel de Crillon and take a quick look at the often very luxurious cars parked in front. The American Embassy is right next door and under guard. The vehicles don’t fear much.

Come on, just for fun, a discreet look ahead towards the Madeleine church and its neoclassical architecture. And what else ? Oh yes, the musée de l’Orangerie that I discovered very recently, in fact, as wierd as it may seem. It is very pleasant with few visitors overall and the exhibitions on offer are always excellent.

And for greedies, just a stone’s throw away on rue de Rivoli, you have Angelina Paris to enjoy a Mont-Blanc!