The last time we did a major trip into France was nine years ago, in May 2015.
I am not a great fan of the French, I always run into frustrations and irritating inefficiencies. This year would prove to be no different (we returned home one day early). While France has a lot to offer but it comes at a price: daily frustrations!
The basic plan was to finally visit Les Rencontres de la photographie d'Arles in the south of France and have stops on the way in Paris (3 nights) and on the Loire and to visit a few castles there.
This page is what caught my eye (camera!) in Paris during a stay of 3 nights and 2 full days.

FRANCE 2024 | PARIS| ARLES PHOTO | CASTLES | BLACK & WHITE

Thirsty after a long drive from home, I found an Irish pub nearby 'Patrick's, a.k.a. 'Le Ballon Vert'.

And yes indeed they also served Guinness! I later tried the IPA by Guinness, but found it less satisfying.

Le Ballon Vert

I enjoy graffiti like this, in the same street as Patrick's. Off on a good start.

A look from Pont Notre Dame; blue skies but quite cold that morning.

The bridge in view is the Pont au Change.

Notre-Dame de Paris, still very much in restoration
en.wikipedia.org:_Notre-Dame_de_Paris

Thy built a stage to have a look at this immense work- in-progress

There's also a gallery of those involved in the restoration. Well done, I'd say (but would they've
gone through the trouble if not for the hordes of visitors to Paris for the 2024 Olympics?).

Many people pass here for the Notre-Dame, a good spot for him and dog George.

Door of the subway opening and closing, Bastille was on the line into town for us.

Yes indeed: Paris 2024 (Hôtel de Ville)

A spot I recognized for the two statues at the door but it seems new graffiti was added

I love Urban Art

An important venue for me was the exhibition Véhiculaire & Vernaculaire by photographer Stephen Shore

The echibition in Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson was in its last days and I was glad to visit it.

Part of the exhibition Véhiculaire & Vernaculaire was photography by drones, one side urban, the other side rural.

There was a catalogue for sale, but only in French (typical of the French, the world outside France is irrelevant).
So I did not buy the catalogue, they can stick it you-know-where!

Nicely done this!

The exhibition was also a retrospective, even going back from early photos from travelling in the car with his father

Road Trip Journal

A group was entertained since this exhibition was about to close. I left the gift shop this without any books.

On several parks and fence we found photographs celebrating the Olympics 2024, which had recently ended.

Take aim..!

Square Gabriel Pierne

While I hadn't bought any photobooks at the Fondation HCB, I had better luck here at Le Plac'Art Photo.
I bought two secondhand photobooks for reasonable prices. This was my first visit here.

Another bookstore specializing in photobooks: La Chambre Nouvelle Claire, it was 3rd visit (2nd on this adress).
But I found nothing to my liking, comparing two candidates I found them cheaper where I live.

"Vive la résistance Ukrainienne"

Found this next to the door which had a sign:
'Le Poete Theodore de Banville est mort dans cette maison le 13 Mars 1891'

'Prendre la lune/
avec les dents'
'Les murs ont desoreilles'

Paris 2024

We walked along an oblong park which followed a medieval wall; there was this (dirty) sign:
THE FOREST OF THE UNICORN

It's on the Av. de Président Wilson; I think below photo could be on the same avenue.

Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes

Entrance to the keep is on the 1st floor

Pity it was rather empty...

The painted decorations were done by prisoners!

More decorations on the prison walls

They seem in conversation with each other ☺

The water well, safe inside the donjon (keep)

This 'donjon' (or keep) allegedly is the tallest in Europe, built in the 14th century.

A visit to Jardin des Tuileries.

But it was closed off shortly after entering it from the Louvre metro station

A A musician doing her best on 'Hotel California'

We crossed the Seine via the Pont du Carrousel

I should have made a run for it to get a better shot of these exercisers, but my run lost its high gear...

We walked along the Seine, along the Quai Voltaire / Quai Malaquais and...

..turned into the Rue de Seine. Where this cozy little park had photographs on the gate and people meeting.

Rue de Seine has a long row of galeries. I went into one, and I would have loved to make a purchase!

LUMAS reminded me of the international gallery CASTLE, which I visited in Glasgow and York.

The portrait of David Bowie had his expression changing while you walked past!

Trying to flog his painting; felt sorry for him but did not buy it.

Having arrived at my intended goal this afternoon: Jardin du Luxembourg.
Always good for a few photos in the public domain.

People relaxing on a sunny saturday afternoon.