Saturday, February 23, 2008

The Underside of Renovation

La Belette Rouge pointed out in a comment on my post about the changes taking place on the Rue Béteille:

"Your posts have featured a lot of change and construction lately. There's this post and the tractor (loved that picture). Are you in a mood of renovation?"

I am in anything but a mood of renovation (although I know someone who is -- or at least had better be.)

I watch, intrigued, as icons of Rodez's past move into the 21st century.

My first photo shoot of the changes taking place at the Hôtel Broussy gave a general idea of this major modification, but two months later I had to return to snap images of the grey underbelly of change.

This time a worker came up to talk to me. He was rightly curious as to why I was photographing this:

-Vous prenez des photos de ça?

-Oui, je trouve ça fascinant...

-Pour vous peut-être -- pas pour nous!

-Je veux bien vous croire...avec le froid qu'il fait...

-On espère juste qu'il tient le choc!


9 comments:

Tinsie said...

On espère juste qu'il tient le choc?

Please tell me this doesn't mean what I think it means?!!

(Have you thought it might be worth investing in a hard hat?)

Betty Carlson said...

Yes, it does mean what you think it means. But I'm sure it was just a joke. I liked the way he put it, though.

Tinsie said...

Haha - let's hope it's just the guy's sense of humour.

BTW I've just changed by blog address to randomthroughtsdotcom - thought I'd let you know in case you were looking for me at the old address.

tut-tut said...

Lots of changes imminent (I hope) here in the US politically; your photos may be symbolic of a certain administration's toppling . . . If not, I'm going to try to follow Function of Time and move. I may ask for advice!

Betty Carlson said...

tut-tut- Remember that no matter what the outcome of the elections, the current administration is out of here! Only a few more months now...hang on...

La Belette Rouge said...

I did indeed notice a theme in your posts. You cannot help but be affected by your environment. And if there is a lot of change around you---it has to impact you some place in your psyche.Inner or outer change is a good thing. Right? I prefer change that does not require a hard hat. And, yes, I am all for the changes that are eminent in the political scene in the states.

B said...

There's something eerie about these kind of demolition shots that is so appealing to me! I'm with you... definitely not in a mood for physical renovation but always for introspective renovation! :)

Betty Carlson said...

b -- It's nice to see that you're a kindred spirit. My best friend once told me that I was the type of person who couldn't resist peering into the windows of dirty, abandoned buildings. And that's when I was living in the USA! Imagine all of the temptation around me here in France...

blueVicar said...

So many images....so many stories...

Meilleurs voeux!!