France I, St Ettiene (12-15th October) and Paris (19th-22 October)

I was in St Ettienne for a few days to do some training and help set up their console for the SATIS trade-show in Paris a few days later that, originally, I was not going attend since I was to be in Helsinki. After a complete shipping disaster that saw the console designated for Finland end up caught up in a customs/freight-handling meltdown and not leave New York, I then headed back to Paris instead to help out with the show. After the show had a day and a half to myself in Paris. And my god, what a city! How inspiring! How beautiful! How rich in the appreciation of the important things in life. Good food, culture, the arts, beauty, and of course, Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite.

I went and saw a fantastic exhibition on DADA at the Pompidou center and wandered around the streets of the city, checking out some of the smaller galleries etc... And also wandered around Mont Matre, rigt next to where my Hotel was. I also made it up to the Sacre Ceur to look out over the rooftops.

On Friday night I managed to hook up with a friend of mine from Sydney who is currently in Paris on an Arts scholarship and after a good meal, lots of wine and a zomewhat bizzare photoshoot for her upcoming show 'shoes and booze' next week, we headed out into the night. Cutting through ancient Sandstone cloisters and dim 18th century alleyways, onto the wide bbOuldevards, and finally, after an excellent 'crepe do Fromage' by the side of the road - into the bowls of a slamming techno club. Great night!

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Street in St Etienne.		The view from my hotel-room window.

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A beuatiful old building on the town square in St Etienne.		Doorway.

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And now, Paris - step out of the Gar du Nord, and immediately - want to start taking photos of everything!!!		This was the Metro station closest to my hotel. They were obviously doing some work on the place, but the decaying beauty struck me.

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Homes and shops.		Doorway of a beuatiful little church in Mont Matre.

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Another Tube Station.		Oh yeah - and there was that bloody sticky-uppy-thing-again!

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Just another little church.		A knight on the facade of the Sacre Ceur looks out over the city.

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