Here's what it's like in Paris today

Paris is mourning after 129 people were killed in a wave of terrorist attacks on Friday night and into Saturday morning. 

Dina Spector, an editor at Business Insider's London bureau, reported from the French capital and took photos at the Avenue de la Republique

The largest signs of grief and gathering are at the Place de la Republique, a square in Paris located on the border between the 10th and 11th arrondissements, where two of the shootings occurred.

Business Insider UK/Dina Spector

Business Insider UK/Dina SpectorMourners visit the Place de la République, a square in Paris located on the border between the 10th and 11th arrondissements. The sign hung on the monument reads, "I am human."

Thousands gathered at the Place de la Republique after the Charlie Hebdo massacre, but French officials are recommending that people stay indoors and refrain from forming groups that could become targets.

Business Insider UK/Dina Spector

"The atmosphere is completely ruined," a German tourist told Business Insider. "Everyone is walking around with earnest, sad faces.'"

Business Insider UK/Dina Spector

A cafe owner, who lives a couple of streets away from Bataclan, said Parisians are peaceful people. "They've attacked the culture of Paris," he told Business Insider.

Benoit Tessier/ReutersPolice secure the area near the screened-off facade of the Bataclan Cafe and its adjoining concert hall the day after a series of deadly attacks in Paris, France, November 14, 2014.

The Bataclan theater, a popular concert venue in the 10th Arrondissement where six to eight attackers killed at least 112 people after holding them hostage, has been sealed off by police.

Benoit Tessier/ReutersMemorial bouquets of flowers are placed on barriers near the Bataclan concert hall the day after a series of deadly attacks in Paris, France, November 14, 2015.

Still, many mourners have gathered outside the theater to pay their respects to victims of the massacre.

Christian Hartman/ReutersA woman pays her respect near the Bataclan concert hall the day after a series of deadly attacks in Paris , November 14, 2015.

A state of emergency is still in effect, and France has closed its borders.

Yves Herman/ReutersFrench military patrol near Notre Dame Cathedral the day after a series of deadly attacks in Paris.

Public cultural sites, including the Eiffel tower, the Louvre museum, and Notre Dame cathedral are closed on Saturday. Schools, libraries, and other facilities  — like tourist information desks — are all closed.

Dina Spector/Business Insider UK

Travelers said the Gare du Norde train station was less busy than usual, probably because a lot of people canceled their journeys to Paris.

Dina Spector/BI UK

A middle-aged Dutch couple, visiting from Amsterdam for the weekend, said they were surprised by the lack of police at Gare du Norde. They had plans to leave today anyway but said "we are happy to go." 

Dina Spector/BI UK

"We are all afraid," Agnes Lise, who works in Paris, told Business Insider as she was was waiting with her friend at Gare du Norde. "It can happen anytime, anywhere."

Dina Spector/BI UK

Still, mourners found small ways to express their solidarity:

Business Insider UK/Dina Spector

And are helping any way they can: 

 In Paris and around the world:

David Mdzinarishvili/ReutersA woman with French flag painted on her face, holds a flower during a gathering in tribute to the victims of Paris attacks in Tbilisi, Georgia, November 14, 2015.

Ints Kalnins/ReutersPeople look at flowers offered in tribute to the victims of Paris attacks outside French embassy in Riga, Latvia, November 14, 2015.

Michalis Karagiannis/ReutersPeople pay tribute to victims of the Paris attacks, in front of the French embassy in Athens, Greece, November 14, 2015.

Hannibal Hanschke/ReutersPeople lay down flowers and light candles to tribute victims of Friday's attacks in Paris as the Brandenburg gate is illuminated in blue, white and red in the colors of the French flag, in Berlin, Germany, November 14, 2015.