A day at night
Mar 24, 2020, 10:19 PM
Paris lockdown sounds recorded by Théo Serror.
"Paris, France, fourth night of global lockdown.
"I thought my neighbourhood would be more affected than it seems to be. So far, lockdown makes everyday look and sound like a very long Sunday morning. Low traffic, but traffic still, always a dozen pedestrians in sight under my windows, most shops closed except food stores...
And nights aren't that much quieter either.
"This scene happened around 3am. I happened to live nearby the Sacré-Cœur, and was having a walk nearby. Upon reaching the basilica, I was met by a small group of teenagers. They had turned a bedspring into a sled, and were sliding down the massive stairway which lies before the Sacré-Cœur's square.
"This square, usually flooded by tourists and onlookers had suddenly turned into an ephemeral theme park.
"Once they had left, there only remained what's probably the closest one can get to Paris' breath. Heard from one of Paris' highest position. A deep, low and wide rumble, arising from its persistent traffic despite the lockdown and the countless air vents of its buildings and shops.
"And then, a wren woke up. It's 3.30 am, the night is pitch black. But here it is, chirping, where there's usually no bird to be found.
"This lonely dot of wildlife, created a sharp contrast in this urban, exclusively human-made soundscape, where it almost sounded out-of-place, and yet infinitely refreshing."
Part of the #StayHomeSounds project, documenting the sounds of the global coronavirus lockdown around the world - for more information, see http://www.citiesandmemory.com/covid19-sounds
"Paris, France, fourth night of global lockdown.
"I thought my neighbourhood would be more affected than it seems to be. So far, lockdown makes everyday look and sound like a very long Sunday morning. Low traffic, but traffic still, always a dozen pedestrians in sight under my windows, most shops closed except food stores...
And nights aren't that much quieter either.
"This scene happened around 3am. I happened to live nearby the Sacré-Cœur, and was having a walk nearby. Upon reaching the basilica, I was met by a small group of teenagers. They had turned a bedspring into a sled, and were sliding down the massive stairway which lies before the Sacré-Cœur's square.
"This square, usually flooded by tourists and onlookers had suddenly turned into an ephemeral theme park.
"Once they had left, there only remained what's probably the closest one can get to Paris' breath. Heard from one of Paris' highest position. A deep, low and wide rumble, arising from its persistent traffic despite the lockdown and the countless air vents of its buildings and shops.
"And then, a wren woke up. It's 3.30 am, the night is pitch black. But here it is, chirping, where there's usually no bird to be found.
"This lonely dot of wildlife, created a sharp contrast in this urban, exclusively human-made soundscape, where it almost sounded out-of-place, and yet infinitely refreshing."
Part of the #StayHomeSounds project, documenting the sounds of the global coronavirus lockdown around the world - for more information, see http://www.citiesandmemory.com/covid19-sounds