Each summer for about a month or so the city of Paris brings the beach to the Right Bank of the Seine, importing god knows how much sand and dozens of palm trees. (Note: these have nothin' on Stanford's Palm Drive). You can't swim in the Seine so it isn't quite like a real beach, but that doesn't stop bikini-clad girls from tanning and precocious toddlers from playing in the sand. It's popular enough that one should bring her own towel to sit on rather than banking on snagging a beach chair (even with a majority of Parisians away on holiday!)
If and when you do get a seat, it's a great place to relax and people watch. Vendors are on hand selling gelato, hot dogs, fries and ice cold drinks. Or if you want to be a little more active, there are foosball tables and organized exercise classes. Beyond the boundaries of the beach, toward the Louvre, a group of men and women have set up of stools offering free 10 minute massages.
For those who can't actually get out of the city, it's a nice afternoon escape. (And did I mention it's free?)
oh god i am so jealous.. i heard about this when i was there and swore i'd come back in some late summer to experience it. dah i hope you used the little shovel to make a little sandcastle :)
ReplyDeletealas, i did not. but we did have fun watching this adorable little toddler next to us try to build something...and by build i mean putting sand in a bucket and subsequently pouring it out again.
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