Paris has a beach.
I am sure anyone with any semblance of geography knowledge or access to a map is now calling me crazy.
Skeptic: Ce n’est pas possible! (That is not possible!)
Me: Mais oui, c’est possible! (But yes, it is possible!)
Paris does have a beach… if for only four weeks out of the year. It may be hard to imagine looking at the photo I took during late spring, but at the height of summer the river Seine is transformed into the “Paris Plage” (Paris Beach). Two thousand tons of sand are placed along its banks, turning the City of Light into an urban beach destination complete with deck chairs, umbrellas, and beach volleyball. Areas generally jammed with cars become pedestrian zones for toes-in-sand walking. Bands play while ice cream vendors and beer sellers are ever present to cool off beachgoers of any age. And since swimming in the Seine is off-limits, even pools are provided for those who want to take a dip. It is an amazing month-long summer extravaganza!
And why would they go to so much trouble? Because Paris gets hot in the summer, people love the beach, and Nice is a six hour train ride away. Truly, that is the reason in a nutshell.
We all want a little piece of beach life. Relaxing in the sun. The smell of suntan lotion. Dipping toes in cool water. Colorful beach towels. Summer. ‘Beach’ is a state of mind as much as it is a destination. Be it on the coast, at the lake, up a creek, along the river, or in a backyard pool — we create our own beach life. So grab a cold drink, pull up a chair, and soak up some sun. It’s beach time!
