Paris Plage
Sorry for the late post everyone. Still playing catch-up with the photo postings...By the time you read this it will have finished. But as requested, here is something about the Paris Plage (Paris Beach).
On the way home from Montmartre, we decided to stop off at the Paris Plage, which is in its third year of running. I hear hoots of laughter in the background from all the Aussies. But really, they have a beach in Paris for the whole of August. Where? Along the right bank of the Seine, the same side as the Louvre Museum. Over 2,000 tons of sand has been laid and smoothed over for one's tanning pleasure along 3km of what is usually the busy George Pompidou Expressway.
On a good day, much like this one, you'll be lucky to find space for your towel, let alone a chair or parasol. If you feel up to it, you can take dance lessons and salsa with strangers, you can also play several beach sports including petanque (yes, that is a sport here is France as I'm sure lawn bowling is in Australia). They even have a small wall set up for rock climbing and a mini-acrobranche course.
This year you can cool off in a 28-metre swimming pool or under numerous misting fountains that have been conveniently installed. Unfortunately, the Seine is not a place for a dip, unless you don't mind growing an extra toe. As usual, they've left a strip of bitumen clear for those who wish to cycle, rollerblade, or simply ramble and witness the spectacle. While you soak up the sun you'll be treated to organised & impromptu performances. A popular one was a group of guys improvising on different drums. If we wanted, I'm sure we could have jammed with them. However, I thought it best to save everyone's eardrums from bleeding, including my own. Instead, I opted to do my little salsa on the spot as they battled to out-beat each other.
On the way home from Montmartre, we decided to stop off at the Paris Plage, which is in its third year of running. I hear hoots of laughter in the background from all the Aussies. But really, they have a beach in Paris for the whole of August. Where? Along the right bank of the Seine, the same side as the Louvre Museum. Over 2,000 tons of sand has been laid and smoothed over for one's tanning pleasure along 3km of what is usually the busy George Pompidou Expressway.
On a good day, much like this one, you'll be lucky to find space for your towel, let alone a chair or parasol. If you feel up to it, you can take dance lessons and salsa with strangers, you can also play several beach sports including petanque (yes, that is a sport here is France as I'm sure lawn bowling is in Australia). They even have a small wall set up for rock climbing and a mini-acrobranche course.
This year you can cool off in a 28-metre swimming pool or under numerous misting fountains that have been conveniently installed. Unfortunately, the Seine is not a place for a dip, unless you don't mind growing an extra toe. As usual, they've left a strip of bitumen clear for those who wish to cycle, rollerblade, or simply ramble and witness the spectacle. While you soak up the sun you'll be treated to organised & impromptu performances. A popular one was a group of guys improvising on different drums. If we wanted, I'm sure we could have jammed with them. However, I thought it best to save everyone's eardrums from bleeding, including my own. Instead, I opted to do my little salsa on the spot as they battled to out-beat each other.
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