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“Fun in the Sun at the “”Bord de la Seine”””

The “Plage” just opened yesterday. Last year the weather was so dreary there wasn’t a single reasonable opportunity to pay it a visit. This year may be entirely different. Let’s hope so.

If you don’t know what the “Plage” is…it’s “Paris Plage”…the man-made creatively invented “beach”
along the Seine concocted by Mayor Bertrand Delanoë and his team of frustrated sunworshipers a few years ago.

Whoa! Actually, it’s been since 2002. That makes this the 7th edition of fun in the sun (when we get a little) at the “bord de la Seine.” The year of the “canicule” (the record-breaking heat wave of August 2003), it got lots of action, particularly under the “brumisateurs” (cool water misters). It was the most heavenly place to be even if you left collapsed like a wet taco.

Paris Plage is a stolen name, from “Le Touquet-Paris-Plage,” a coastal town in the Pas-de-Calais. It has a reputation for being quite elegant…the “playground of the rich Parisians.” Think the same Parisians are at the Paris Paris Plage? Doubt it. Paris Paris Plage is for all us non-vacationing Parisians or vacationing non-Parisians, in whichever category you find yourself.

Each August I’m one of those non-vacationing Parisians who’s looking for things to do while all the rich Parisians are at Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, or the Côte d’Azur or this year, traveling to the good ol’ U.S. of A. where their strong euro buys them everything in sight for “centimes.”

No complaints, really. Tomorrow morning I board the big bird for the City by the Bay (San Francisco) along with all those rich Parisians in search of a bargain vacation Stateside. While they’re buying up The Gap, drinking Café Lattes at Starbucks and discovering “freedom” fries at MacDonald’s, I’ll be at the Alliance Française teaching a group of Francophiles how to “Live and Invest in France.” Ironic, isn’t it?

So, consequently, I’ll miss most of the three weeks Paris Plage will be in “beachiness” (through August 16th). Shucks! But, hey, you may have a chance…if you’re a non-vacationing Parisian or a vacationing non-Parisian, then don’t miss it. There’s lots to do along the Plage this year…

Exercise along the quays…bike, build muscle, jog, flex.
Ping pong, ping pong, ping pong.
Dance from morning to night.
Play baby soccer or “pétanque” or “Putt-Putt.”
Or just plain hang out. Picnic. Walk. Ride. Eat. Drink. Be merry.

When I was a kid in New Orleans, we used to go every summer to Pontchartrain Beach. The advertising jingle I can still so vividly remember comes to mind now as Paris Plage opens its arms to Parisians of all kinds (vacationing or non):

At the beach, at the beach, at Pontchartrain (Paris) beach.
You’ll have fun, you’ll have fun, every day of the week.
You’ll love the thrilling rides, laugh till you split your sides
At Pontchartrain (Paris) beach.

Can you hear me singing?

For more information consult, http://www.paris.fr for everything you need to know about Paris Plage (in French, sorry!).


A la prochaine…

Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris

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P.S. Be sure to see our newest Parler Paris Apartment!! Le Pinot Noir on Rue Debelleyme in the 3rd Arrondissement…a one-bedroom luxury apartment ready for occupancy! Visit /parlerparis/apartments/rentals/pinot_noir.html

P.P.S. There is still time to register for the Living and Investing in France Real Estate Conference this coming weekend in San Francisco. Visit /frenchproperty/conference/LIF_SF_2008/index.html to sign up now.

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