July 08, 2007

Where I live

I managed to find a book with some old photos of postcards from the area where I now live since a few months. There was even a photo from “my” street, so I took “the same” – rather early yesterday morning so the street was a bit empty.

I imagine that the old photo was taken in the beginning of the 20th century. It’s surprising how it seemed to be popular by that time to make postcards representing all kinds of streets, without any particular tourist or other interest.

Obviously, not very much has changed – actually I can see only one new building. Most of them seem to date from the middle of the 19th century.

I moved here in March this year, leaving a bigger family flat; the kids have moved out and I retired. In my earliest posts I already talked a lot about the area, Batignolles, in the 17th arrondissement. I like it a lot; a mixed population, close to everything - all kinds of shops, bars and restaurants in the street or just round the corner.

So now, you should be able to find the way…!

23 comments:

Zhang Chunhong said...

Les photos sont incroyablement semblables, sauf les couleurs. Je vois que tu es déjà devenu un photographe professionel!Si je gagne un jour au loto, je vais m'acheter un appartement dans ton quartier. Comment résister à un quartier si charmant sous ta plume?

Zhang Chunhong said...

Bien sur que les couleurs sont différentes: c'est elles qui montrent les traces laissées par le temps. Je suis très souvent étonnée par l'âge de constructions (d'immeubles) en France.

Fénix - Bostonscapes said...

How much nicer streets look without cars. You live very close to what looks like a wonderful park. Nice neighborhood! :)

isa said...

Uncanny how things stayed the same!
And until just recently, people were born and stayed in the same place during their entire lives...

You were very lucky to find that old postcard ;-)

Annie said...

I'll be over shortly, now that I know where to come. Shall I bring a bottle of wine? Some flowers?

Cuckoo said...

Peter,
That's exactly the same angle as in the old photograph !!

Yeah, not much has changed. Good to know where to live. Watch out !! I am coming.

hpy said...

I already did! There's an invitation for you on my "normal" blog.

Peter said...

hpy:
Invitation accepted, with pleasure. A lunch together with some bloggers somewhere downstreams Rouen sounds very nice!!

Anonymous said...

Nice post, Peter. I like the old photo too as the street was much newer then and no cars. That would be nice but we love them so much that it will be a long time before the last one rusts away.

My daughter, Melinda, has a picture she took on my blog. It is a stunning macro.
Brookville Daily Photo

Peter said...

annie, cuckoo etc...:
I'm looking forward to your visit, but no need to bring anything! The champagne is already waiting!

abraham:
On the old photo, there seems to be ONE car at the end of the street. When I moved here, I decided not to have any car anymore. I use my feet, my bike, metro and now and then a rented car... and I'm still hesitating about buying a scooter.

Emilieee said...

What a lovely looking street! And you had taken the picture from the same angle. Awesome. I should be able to find my way IF I were in Paris. :)

hogrelius said...

Du bor verkligen på första parkett, härligt!Gatan ser inte så bred ut så det kanske inte är en massa störande trafik?Kollade flygpriser för ett par dagar sedan o nu är det väldigt dyrt.Längre fram så har Ving resor med tre övernattningar o flyg för ca 3.400 och det är ju någorlunda mot de 5000-9000 som bolagen ska ha idag.Ryanair finns alltid med sina ca 1000 kr men när jag gick in på deras hotellsidor så höll jag på att smälla av,1500 kr natten!!Får se till september när alla priser sjunker!

Peter said...

hogrelius:
Välkomment till Paris i september eller när det passar!

Anonymous said...

Hello ! I'm back from my hollidays !
if you live in Les Batignolles you should like François Truffaut 's first movies, the "doinel" série beginning with "les 400 coups"...

Peter said...

catherine:
Of course I know these Truffaut classics, but when I saw them in Sweden as a young man, Batignolles didn't say anything to me. Time for a revised look with my "Batignolles eyes"!

Shionge said...

How wonderful to be living in a historical building Peter....so you are very much in the heart of everything huh?

I'll look out for you for sure when I step foot in Paris again :D

black feline said...

it's a good move...away from the commercialised bigger cities...i believe people are friendlier too...will love to retire with a little cafe in such places...and drinking coffee with u monsieur?lol

Anonymous said...

What you say about the old postcards is true, and isn't it fascinating and almost crucial to have them as historical documents? I wonder if we are still doing the same thing today so that in 100 years time people cam make the same comparisons. .Because we take photography for granted, we overlook the fact that every photograph is a historical document of some sort, and yet when you look through flickr for example, even though there are many excellent images, there is not so much that would qualify as archive material.
It looks as though you have moved to an area that has some neighbourhood amenity. That is what I would look for in a city - the ability to nip out and buy necessities or have a coffee or drink without having to organise an expedition

Cergie said...

Hier, je suis passée devant "la mère de famille" car nous avons raccompagné notre fils chez lui. J'ai pensé à toi
Mon fils, comme tu le sais habite pas loin de chez toi, dans le 9ème.

Kunterbunt said...

that's a great thing, to have an old photo and to take a new one from the same standpoint. I think the street didn't change much, all the buildings are there, only too many cars nowadays.

sonia a. mascaro said...

Lovely place to live in, Peter! Really, it's a very charming street! And it is amazing that you taken the photo from the same perspective and also that you find that old postcard!

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