I have to admit...every day I see the image of the Eiffel tower a few times a day. I can't avoid it. I thought about one day photographing just how many different places refer to Paris, or the Eiffel in my 15 minute walk to work...almost like a daily reminder. Now, I have just taken it as a given state of being. 
Paris is one of the most vocal cities on this earth...the citizens are known for voicing their views. This move, to control public protesting flies in the face of what Paris is known for, Liberty. There is disruption, change, and movement that is constant in Paris that can tend to wear people out by just observing her changing her mood.
But, that is Paris...a city of dreams.
Often there are many lessons you learn, and though many people go there for a bit of a respite, I found I learned something else that day.
More than seeing the carefully manicured grounds, or the ordered backpacks on park benches that were unmolested. 
And more than these scenes of lions and tigers taking their morning naps in the shade of a beautiful day. Though there were many children screaming for these proud beasts to get up, their passive nature amused me. They ignored the chants of these demanding children and merely flicked their tails. The bravery of children to shout at a distance. 
So I thought about the captivity of these animals, for the purpose of having people look at animals they would see only in the wild. Captivity for the education of others. No matter how beautiful the setting, here these wild beasts were housed to listen to creatures that they would devour.
It isn't an original thought. Most of my life I shunned zoos. I think it goes back to an experience where I looked into the eyes of these animals and I saw hopelessness. I saw misery. You can be given everything you need to sustain your existence, even a companion...but where is the joy in being housed, safe from the elements, only to realize you cannot go where you truly want.
You may be cared for, or neglected...you are at the mercy of your keepers.
However, this place had a place where the captives could fly and be free. To come and go if they choose. There was not a thing in place to keep them there...just water and food. They remain.
They come and breed, eat, and drink; protected with the freedom to fly away. Which would you rather be?
When I went in the building I wanted to follow the wine bottles down the stairs.
However, that was not to be. Up three flights of stairs to find this sign greeting me...
As Foreign Girl (sitting at the bar) a friendly (but very drunk) man was trying to talk to me...and he was telling me how he liked being a photographer, but had run out of film (yes, film is still used). He then asked me a typical question, where I was from...oh that is a hard one for me to answer. He then proceeded to tell me that he loved me...note the absolute nuetrality in my pose...I was here, but used the opportunity of a bathroom break to change seats.
