I had to pop over to Paris for a day long workshop and so decided to go over the night before. Had a morning breakfast meeting so the usual plan of taking photographs in the dawn time was out. Anyway, heavy rain was predicted as well. Ergo, late night 11PM photography walkabout. Plus I forgot my overcoat and i was freezing despite an emergency purchase of a hoodie.
The hotel room overlooked an inner courtyard kind of thing, it was overlaid by this extraordinary scalloped concrete shell. 
One part was the hotel and other parts were various other offices. 
On the ground is a staircase leading to the lower levels and the underground. 
Looks quite nice. 
Presuming this stands for the 3rd exit from this scallop. 
Close view of the staircase. 
An electronic information board. 
Seating arrangements. Looks like cups. 
See the roof? 
The three sides come together in the middle. 
The serrated banked set of balconies. Looks vaguely like a science fiction arena. Anyway, closed up the room and left to go outside. 
It wasnt raining thank God. 
A giant green thumb sculpture. Hmmm. ok. 
La Defence is the place where the commercial heart of France beats. So the buildings are full of occupants who are the great and good of the corporate world in France. Here’s the building for EDF SUEZ. 
And business hotels. 
SFR
The hotel exterior. I wasnt sure what this was supposed to do. Just decorative or has some kind of blinds functionality? 
Here’s the Grand Arch. This is supposed to be the 20th century equivalent of the Arc de Triomphe which lies on the other side and can be seen from the steps of the Grande Arch. 
The building contains government offices. A white elephant? ok ok, so a cheap shot there, lol. 
The area was well lighted
The top of the Grande Arch contains exhibition space and a restaurant but I understand its closed now. 
The vertical scaffolding is for the elevators. 
Cannonballs on the road. 
Entrance to the Metro in front of the Grande Arch. 
Looking back at the scallope. 
The inside of the arch is covered by this tent like structure. 
Looking on the other side of the arch. 
panning left. 
looking straight down and in the far tiny end is the Arc de Triomphe. 
Looking back at the Arch. 
Walking up the stairs. 
The paths leading outside the arch. 
The Arc de Triomph. 
Now I am up the stairs and looking up at the scaffolding for the elevators. 
The tent like overhang. 
Crossing over to the other side and panning left. 
Closeup of roads over and under roads. 
The Parisian Axis line continues. 
Viewing the other side. I think the dark patch in the middle is a park but i could be wrong. 
This is an art gallery inside the doors. I had one of the security guards on the right looking at me suspiciously. 
Walking back outside and down the stairs. Looking back at the thumb. 
The entrance to the Metro, closed now. 
Stairs going up to a cafe. 
Starting to walk towards the Arc de Triomph. 
This is the hotel side of the scallop. 
Looking back at the Grande Arch. 
I think this sign is for the company which runs the estate. 
Kept on walking down. A cage like building. 
Jules Verne Terminal. Metro station I think. 
Colourful light sculptures
The colourful base makes a good distinctive comparison to the top dark glass bit. 
Here is the Arch again. 
This is the statue, La Defence de Paris, which was erected to honour the Parisian soldiers who defended Paris in the Franco Prussian Wars of 1870-1871. So dont think this area is a military establishment or something. 
Walking on by. 
Lovely building. Looks like a rocket ship. 
Closest where I could get to see the Arc de Triomphe. 
Turned around for a final view of the Grande Arch. But it was getting way too cold and it started to rain, so buggered off back to the hotel. Here are some more of the photographs in a slideshow.
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