The opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is set to take place right through Paris. Life in the city has been virtually paralyzed by the preparations. A tour in eerie silence.
You can hear the birds chirping on the banks of the Seine, it’s so quiet these days. Palm trees rustle in white plant baskets on the Louis-Philippe bridge, a touch of the Côte d’Azur has recently decorated the crossing to Île Saint-Louis, one of the oldest districts of the city. From here, the path leads to the southern bank of the Seine, Rive Gauche. The dome of the Panthéon shimmers in the distance, but on the wide sidewalks, where tour groups from all over the world usually crowd, you only see Janine and her tiny white dog called Madame. “Isn’t it wonderful?” asks the older lady. “All the benches are free, I’ll sit on any one. That’s never happened before. Paris is so empty!”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
