On the other side of the Seine River, not far from the Eiffel Tower, we stopped in for our last dinner in Paris and our last cafe. Given my connection to New York City, my hometown, I found the choice amusing.

I made no attempts to get food that was vaguely French; I ordered a hamburger with fries. After all, I was in New York, why not?

All the meals I’ve eaten in cafes have been great — solid food for a reasonable price. The burger here was no exception. It had fresh ingredients, great-tasting beef, and what looked like a homemade bun. The fries were perfect, and the combo even included a fresh salad.

I snapped a picture of the cafe as I left. I wasn’t paying attention and had my shutter speed set at a slow 1/8 second — definitely inadequate for the scene. Except it turned out great. The image stabilization worked, and the people didn’t move. It’s my favorite cafe photo of the entire trip.

While it doesn’t have the moodiness of a black and white a night, I think it nicely captures the mood of these French cafes and the people who visit them.

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