Our first two days in France, we were navigating 97 degree heat and jet lag. We had fun, but don't remember much.
There is a new and oddly appealing element on the Seine which we took advantage of. It is called Paris Plages. With the addition of many tons of sand, portions of the banks of the Seine River have been turned into plages (beaches) complete with beach volley ball, traditional beach chairs, plastic, inflatable bean bag-like beach chairs (really fun), umbrellas, and live jazz at a water front cafe. The best part, though, were enormous rings mounted to the river wall which constantly rained down a heavy mist of cool water.
The whole idea sounds a little bizarre, I know... on the bank of the Seine in one of the oldest and most classic European cities in the world. In a weird way, however, it works. Maybe it was just the delirium of the heat-wave-stupor-jet-lag. Yet Paris does have this amazing way of reinventing and modernizing itself in a way which makes you want to be Parisian. I would know; I have still not recovered from that feeling which I first experienced on my first visit to Paris when I was 10 years old.
I am not sure if it was more fun going through the mist tunnel ourselves or watching others go through. We spent hours there. Mostly because we didn't have the energy to do anything else. The mist felt so good. Our 5th floor converted chambre de bonne (attic maid's room turned studio/loft appartment) would have been at least 5 degrees hotter.
Leigh passed out on the bank of the Seine while Ian and I alternatively soaked and scoped out a place to have ice cream. We located our local street crêpes vendor on the way home and our day was complete.
There is a new and oddly appealing element on the Seine which we took advantage of. It is called Paris Plages. With the addition of many tons of sand, portions of the banks of the Seine River have been turned into plages (beaches) complete with beach volley ball, traditional beach chairs, plastic, inflatable bean bag-like beach chairs (really fun), umbrellas, and live jazz at a water front cafe. The best part, though, were enormous rings mounted to the river wall which constantly rained down a heavy mist of cool water.
The whole idea sounds a little bizarre, I know... on the bank of the Seine in one of the oldest and most classic European cities in the world. In a weird way, however, it works. Maybe it was just the delirium of the heat-wave-stupor-jet-lag. Yet Paris does have this amazing way of reinventing and modernizing itself in a way which makes you want to be Parisian. I would know; I have still not recovered from that feeling which I first experienced on my first visit to Paris when I was 10 years old.
I am not sure if it was more fun going through the mist tunnel ourselves or watching others go through. We spent hours there. Mostly because we didn't have the energy to do anything else. The mist felt so good. Our 5th floor converted chambre de bonne (attic maid's room turned studio/loft appartment) would have been at least 5 degrees hotter.
Leigh passed out on the bank of the Seine while Ian and I alternatively soaked and scoped out a place to have ice cream. We located our local street crêpes vendor on the way home and our day was complete.
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