Things are not always what they seem

We are surrounded by lots of really old structures, many of which have great histories behind them.  But we also occasionally see things that aren't exactly what they seem.

The first night we were out walking around after 9 PM, the street lights were on.  They are beautiful to look at, in a style appropriate for the 19th century (or earlier), similar to a gas lamp.

Once they came on, we realized that they were all high-tech light fixtures, using energy efficient, super bright lamps, maybe LEDs.  So the style that blends so well with the old surroundings is really quite modern.

Yes that's a video camera on the corner of the building

Another illusion that I encountered was a building that from the front looked as substantial as any other.

But looking up at it from one side, it is clear that the top two stories can't be more than 4 or 5 feet wide along that side.  But there are the same large windows across this portion of the building.  This might be a well-lit closet, or just a false front or façade.  I should have guessed that the French use this building technique, as their word for it is already a part of the English language.

It seems that appearances are very important around here.

At least, some of the time.