It’s Day 54 of the South African lockdown, and my big excitement was going to Patisserie de Paris for croissants.
I have blogged about Patisserie de Paris more than once (see this post from my 2017 #Gauteng52 series); it’s one of the best bakeries in Joburg. Normally the Patisserie also has a fantastic sit-down café and French cheese counter, but of course things are different at the moment. The Patisserie is currently selling bread, pastries, and take-away coffee, which you can either have delivered or pick up through the bakery’s front gate.
I planned my Patisserie visit to coincide with my friend Pauline and her son Elias. The three of us sat outside on the pavement and enjoyed our treats — cappuccinos for Pauline and me, baby-ccino and chocolate croissant for Elias, who is six — in the bright winter sun. Pauline and I watched Elias build a satellite out of paper cups and plastic spoons. He reluctantly allowed me photograph him in his stylish mask.
William, a Patisserie staff member who was working outside cleaning the fountain, asked to be photographed too.
It was nice to feel vaguely normal for a change, visiting a favorite foodie hangout and spending a bit of time with friends who I hadn’t seen since the lockdown started.
I spent the rest of the morning running errands — stopping in at the pet supply store, the fruit and veg shop, the butchery, and the drug store — which also felt normal except for the fact that everyone was wearing masks over their faces.
I’m very emotionally tired right now.
Photography I Like
I want to share the work of a photographer who has been bringing me a lot of joy lately. Rich Riggins is a former colleague of my dad’s who used to cover sports for the Baltimore Sun. When I was a kid — back in the day when photographers still shot with film — Dad would take my sister and me before the Baltimore Orioles games to visit Rich in his cramped little dark room inside Memorial Stadium. I also used to watch Rich from the stands during Baltimore Ravens games, roaming the sidelines with his camera.
Today Rich lives and works as a photographer in Alexandria, Virginia. During the pandemic he has been posting the most beautiful daily photos around the Washington D.C. area. The photo he posted today made my jaw drop.
Follow Rich on Instagram at @richrigginsphotography. You can also find him on Facebook at Rich Riggins (his personal profile).
Since we all need more beauty in our lives, I’m going to start alternating my worthy causes with worthy photographers. Suggestions are welcome.
See you on Day 55.
Yes, great croissants, you should try one with bacon & scrambled egg makes a great breakfast.
As soon as it’s possible, for sure! I also love their croque monsieur.
Great post. It helps to have little trips out of the house. But I think everyone is really emotionally drained and over this lockdown. Just hang in there.
Thanks!
That is an amazing photo of the Washington Monument and the moon.
I know! He’s an amazing photographer.
So wonderful to see Elias – the last child I saw IRL before lockdown! He’s probably on his way to college soon it’s been that long lol Love his mask, great colours.
I find going out to do most things outside strangely tiring these days – I think it’s too much excitement of getting to interact with the world and people, not used to having so much stimulation!!
Yes I think you’re exactly right. I was so tired after all those errands!
Glad you could have an enjoyable outing! Everything we took for granted is now special.
I love the portrait of Grant – maybe it’s how all the colours work together.
Brilliant idea to introduce other photographers!
Thank you ????
Some interesting and worthy photographers include Humans of New York, English guy Joel (retouches old photos), Dave Hamman (is selling amazing B&W wildlife prints to pay education fees for kids in Botswana), Pangolin Photo Safaris guides championing pangolin conservation (Charl Stols), JR Artist urban graffiti Paris etc, Dave Edwards on FB features wonderful downtown pics of Joburg every day, very worth seeing the backlog of his page …
Thank you! Will have a look.
… and Wild Shots Outreach, a guy in Hoedspruit (Mike Kendrick) who teaches local kids photography