The last gasp of summer weather, and it falls conveniently over the weekend. Everybody's back in Paris after the summer break and city-wide August shutdown. Gorgeous, hot weather drives what seems like the bulk of them to the banks of the Seine.
At night it's a huge party. I don't want to disturb this older couple's romantic picnic, so I surreptitiously take the photo once I'm past. They have brought out a folding table and covered it with a tablecloth and about a dozen votive candles in little jars. Anthony and I are out for a romantic stroll of our own (the girls are at a sleepover; we will pay for this moment tomorrow!), and it definitely brings a smile to our faces to see not just this couple, but people of all ages and stages enjoying the Seine.
The only real downside to all this Seine-side partying is that there are very few public bathrooms in Paris and virutally none on the quais. What is a 20-something year old who's been drinking wine for four hours supposed to do? Well, there are some bridges and nooks and crannies here and there for when nature calls.
At night it's a huge party. I don't want to disturb this older couple's romantic picnic, so I surreptitiously take the photo once I'm past. They have brought out a folding table and covered it with a tablecloth and about a dozen votive candles in little jars. Anthony and I are out for a romantic stroll of our own (the girls are at a sleepover; we will pay for this moment tomorrow!), and it definitely brings a smile to our faces to see not just this couple, but people of all ages and stages enjoying the Seine.
There's more to enjoy now, as a several-year-long renovation project is underway. The first phase is complete (on-time, even) and new pedestrian sections along the right bank are open. Long-time resident and author David Downie has lived with the "before" for so long, that I think his appreciation for the "after" is about the most gleeful and joyous I've seen, as you can tell if you read his posting.
The only real downside to all this Seine-side partying is that there are very few public bathrooms in Paris and virutally none on the quais. What is a 20-something year old who's been drinking wine for four hours supposed to do? Well, there are some bridges and nooks and crannies here and there for when nature calls.
So, for now we make merry. But until the next rain, at least, the hot stone steps and cobblestones along certain areas of the Seine have a distinctly urban odor.
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