If you spent the past two weeks or so in Paris, you’ll know thatle temps(the weather) did not exactly “spoil” the Parisians—Together with the millions of tourists who flocked into France to visit the French capital!
But actually, since yesterday, theParisweather has decided to take it easy for a bit. Much to the delight of the fans who came to seele lancement(the launching) of this year’sParis-Plagesedition:La dixième(the tenth), to be precise!
What isParis-Plages?
It’sthree kilometersof transformed quays, equipped with almost 2000transats(beach chairs) and other pieces of furniture, and boast some15restaurants andbuvettes(refreshment areas.)
It’s true, the Paris Beach fans are not as numerous as the previous years. Instead ofles maillots de bains(the swimsuits) andles parasols(beach umbrellas), you could mostly see the odd spectacle ofles parapluies(rain umbrellas) coveringles quais(the quays) of the Seine River!
In such climatic conditions, people tend to discover another face ofParis-Plages, while secretly hoping that a better weather is just around the corner—very soonde préférence!
En attendant(in the meantime), the amateurs of this Summeryrendez-vouscan find solace in the numerousactivitésgraciously offered to them for the occasion.
Some like doingun peu de vélo, others do theirfooting du matinordu soir. The younger ones, however, enjoy giving free reign to their “constructive” power of imagination, by building “original”châteaux de sable(sandcastles.)
La nouveau trait(the new feature) of this year’sParis-Plagesis the participation ofDisneyland Paris. The French subsidiary of Disney has in fact taken the construction ofles châteaux de sableto a whole new level, by reproducing the famous castle ofla Belle au bois dormant(Sleeping Beauty)—Sept mètres de haut(seven meters high)!
Seven talentedsculpteurs(sculptors) hailing fromlaFrance,l’Italie, andla Russie, were assigned this task, which they must complete within a delay offive days.
Thechef d’équipe(head of the team) admitted thatla pluie(the rain) was a major challenge, and caused the constructors a few headaches, but he remains confident about the success of the project.
TheParis-Plagesfun will last an entire month: Untille 21 août(the 21st of August)!
