To me, Sundays in France have a very distinct flavour.
When I was a kid, it was the only day we didn’t go to school—we had classes on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Technically, it was a a day we were looking forward to because we could finally sleep in for as long as we wanted. But once we got up, boredom took over.
Everything is closed in France on Sundays and public transportation networks run a reduced schedule. We didn’t have convenience stores (so we had to remember to buy an extra pack of cigarettes, else we had to queue with dozens of other smokers at the Bureau de tabac at the train station, the only place open) and only a couple of bakeries were selling fresh baguettes.
Nothing works properly on Sunday. And if it rains, as it often does in Nantes, the empty streets can be downright depressing.
There is a French word for that omnipresent feeling—glauque. Literally, it means “murky” but also “gloomy” or “depressing”.
Sundays in France are glauques.
I found this one particularly depressing so I thought a black-and-white series was a good fit.
You can see the complete set of pictures taken in France on Flickr.
Soccer Fans
Remains From the Saturday Night Party
Broken Sign
LU Tower
Water
By The Castle
The Castle
Graffiti by the Castle
Former LU Cookie Factory
Train Tracks
Graffiti
Full Garbage Can
Self Portrait
Bridge Across the Loire River
Bakery
Tramway Stop
Rainy Day
Across the Bridge
Construction Site
Self Portrait
Restaurant
Beaulieu
Loire River
Self Portrait
Bar
Bar
6 Comments
I always liked the opportunity of doing nothing on Sundays. Nothing: no groceries, no errants, nothing. For me, it is a very important way of seeing things and seeing life. Just to take some time to do nothing and living slowly 🙂
I get the spirit and I agree… yet I find the day gloomy, not because you can’t do anything. It’s just the atmosphere.
I like inviting friends over and drinking the night away 🙂
If only I liked drinking…!
Great photo of the puddle! I know that gloomy Sunday feeling well rom England!
Oh yes, I’m sure you do!