No Surf, But Great View
07.20.2013
Yes, it's that time of year. During the dog days of summer, when Paris is practically empty anyway, and a surprising number of Parisians are off at their country homes, those of us who are left get to sun ourselves on a one-kilometer-long Right Bank beach smack in the center of Paris for four weeks, from today through August 18.
The city closes the Voie Georges Pompidou on the Seine at water level to vehicle traffic, trucks in tons of biscuit-colored beach sand, and erects beach umbrellas and chaise longues. It provides foosball games (called "baby foot" over here) and refreshment stands, and small pavilions for tai chi lessons and dancing. There's street art, too, in the form of commissioned (and impromptu) sand sculptures. We all hum "Surfin' U.S.A" and "Help Me, Rhonda" as we loll about in our jams and bikinis (huarache sandals, too).
This is the twelfth year of the Paris Plage program, and, even when it rains, it's a popular family outing. There is a satellite plage at Porte de la Villette in the 19th arrondissement, but the main stage is definitely in the shadow of Hotel de Ville.
Paris Plage, Seine, beach, foosball, sand, summer in Paris Life
Reader Comments (9)
Great photos and articles on Paris Kaaren and Richard. I took the Paris Trip's lucky winners once to that beach. They realized then, that our Tahitian beaches gave access to fishing, swimming or surfing with no all dress pass by people watching your half nudity. What a goofy idea! How about my brother Teva who accepted an invitation by a French sport club to participate at a water sky contest on La Seine in the seventies? He came back home holding his winner’s cup though, just another goofy idea! I like the lover’s kisses on “the chair for two only”…Here comes the sun, and I say It's all right, Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting… You two have so much fun with your Paris Play , thank you for sharing, it makes me high…
I like it Richard it seems to be so cool that you & Kaaren have a place to go that the rest of Paris can be seen. Love Bryan
Love these pics!!!! Miss you guys!
Max out your summer fun, the two of you. You live in such a beautiful place
Somehow, and I always thought so, Surrealism is just naturalism for Parisians... and maybe the French in toto.
I mean, bicycling with a huge loaf of bread on the bars, or an Eiffel Tower above the city horizon... you guys with your eyes and hearts on fire with light! It just all makes perfect sense...
All love...
(I couldn't find any poems of mine on beaches or sitting by the Seine in a bikini... Helas.)
Daniel
Moea:
Not quite a Tahitian beach, no. But we take what we can get.
Love,
Kaaren and Richard
Bryan:
Parisians LOVE to be seen. Come and see for yourself!
Many hugs,
Richard and Kaaren
Marguerite:
You are due here soon, yes? Too bad you will miss the beach, but then, you get enough beach, yes?
Love,
Kaaren and Richard
Daniel:
We are stunned that you don't have a Paris beach poem. How could the topic have eluded you?
Surreal love in return,
Kaaren and Richard