Bistrot de la Gare – Paris, France

Several cafes were north of Gare de Lyon train station, close to our hotel. And while we opted for a quick and non-fussy dinner, I snapped this picture in the area. The red neon attracted my attention, and the bistro acted as a compelling Parisian backdrop to this street photograph. I like how I captured a sizable crowd going about their business, but none realized I captured a picture.

My wife and I were tired after our first afternoon in Paris, and because of a late lunch, we decided on a very light dinner. We explored the neighborhood for a suitable place to pick up food for the hotel — even bread and some pastries would do. A more substantial dining experience would have to wait.

It turns out there’s not much of a selection for bread and croissants in the evening. Those are more breakfast items. We found a convenience store and bought salads and drinks. It was a decidedly humble meal but revealing.

Even the preprepared salad in a plastic container was noticeably better than restaurant salad in many U.S. establishments. The lettuce leaves were delicate and amazingly soft. The entire salad had a freshness that we hadn’t experienced, even from gourmet grocery stores. That’s when we first realized how food deprived, we are in America.

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