The View

Paris is the city of the view.

At first thought, seemingly not unlike any other large city perhaps. You think about all those tall buildings in Chicago and New York and you imagine there’s a great view from such a vantage point. Paris is different though—it’s not about how high up can we get you, it’s about what will you see once you’re up there. They’re aren’t actually that many towering structures within the majority of the city limits, and any that you can see stick out like faithful landmarks that they are. It really isn’t about how high up you can get, but what you’re able to look at while you’re up there. And it isn’t just the major buildings, it’s every building. You see it all around you, French windows open up to allow you the chance to lean out and watch the world. People step out onto their balconies or sit in their window sills and just watch what passes by. Looking out onto the world is one more opportunity to understand it. The view may not always be beautiful (though it usually is), but it is always arresting. 

Just like Milwaukee is best seen from the Lake, Paris is best seen from above the horizon line.

Paris also has a particular view at ground level as well. They’ll set chairs around just about anything (fountains, gardens, etc.) just for the enjoyment of the view. Almost every café has rows and rows of seats and tables set outdoors. The chairs of the cafés are not placed cloistered around the table but face outwards, not only so that the world is opened to you, but so that you might be open to the world. At any moment you can place sit yourself down, order your espresso and enjoy the real-time “movie” that happens before you.