Plain old commercial cafe with food in the heart of the shopping district.
A place to rest your weary feet between fighting the crowds at Monoprix, fighting the crowds at Uniqlo, or fighting the crowds at Zara.
The food is standard.
The beer is good.
You can sit down.
You can watch a hundred zillion people.
The crowds are generally crowds of shoppers.
Occasionally, they will be crowds of demonstrators.
They walk rather than run if there is no tear gas.
Every now and then some large performing entourage will pass through.
The band might have zithers.
The band might have electric guitars.
The band might have Brazilian percussion.
Whatever.
Occasionally people will pass in costume.
If it is not Gay Pride month or a holiday, there is still some reason to get dressed up in costume.
Now and then police cars pass by.
Full sirens all the time. At least three or four in a row.
The shoppers have their own stories which unfold around you.
You can drink beer and look at beautiful women.
You can drink beer and look at handsome men.
Pretty or ugly, male or female,
You would never fall in love with any of them in a million years.
There is a lot to see from any cafe table on Rue de la Republique.
This table is as good as any to catch the scene. read more