A quiet lunch within the courtyard of Le Palais Royale.

Having wandered aimlessly down Rue de Rivoli, the construction zone that I found myself in didn’t seem befitting of a place with Palais and Royale in it’s name. A little further along, however, the scaffolding began to dissolve, revealing the lush green courtyard that was hidden from view. Inside this eerily quiet oasis, a small lunchtime crowd reclined around the central water feature in typical French fashion. Nearby, in a bubble where time seemingly stood still, cafe diners passed the lunch hours at their leisure.

Scenes like this are one of the aspects of Paris that I remember most. On a weekday lunch in one of the busiest areas, while tourists swarm and the banalities of city life roll on, you find pockets like this.

The Millennium Bridge spanning from the Tate Modern to St Paul's Catherdral.

Or instead of admiring the view from the Tate Modern to St Paul’s on this gloriously sunny winter’s day, you could be a contrarian and take pictures of the underside of Millennium Bridge.

I can’t really talk though; I’ve done the same.