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Post by fumobici on Jun 2, 2016 17:26:16 GMT
It was a good show but it's time for it to end. May the crest occur before any serious damage happens.
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Post by patricklondon on Jun 2, 2016 17:42:41 GMT
Cripes, I walked all along those residential barges when I was there in May. I do hope things get back to normal quickly. (I noticed that while the Pont des Arts has been cleared of the locks, they're now on other places with the old style fencing, like above the Vert Galant and the Passarelle Senghor - and the weight is pulling the fencing off the supports; still got hawkers selling the locks, though). My blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2016 17:45:34 GMT
Apologies if this was already addressed, but are there official estimates as to the time and size of the flood's cresting? The Seine is expected to rise in Paris to a level of somewhere between 5.30 and 5.90 metres tomorrow. If we're lucky, that will be the high point, but the weather forecast east of Paris is somewhat ambiguous. In any case, the Orsay museum closed early today and the Louvre will be closed tomorrow, both for flood reasons. The Orsay needs to check how waterproof it is, and the Louvre is going to be moving quite a few of the basement "reserves" to a higher level. There was a huge drill in March throughout Paris to prepare for a big flood, and I'm sure they are quite happy that they did it, including making rectangles with concrete blocks around certain metro entrances. That sort of thing would not be necessary unless the situation became much worse, but I clearly recall the fact that concrete block "chimneys" were erected around various sewer manholes near the Seine during the flood of 1982. Actually, something like 20 cultural sites are closed due to flooding in various parts of France, including Chambord, Vaux-le-Vicomte and Azay-le-Rideau. Normally, there is a lovely grassy plain in front of Chambord where you can relax to watch the son-et-lumière at night.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 2, 2016 17:54:29 GMT
Thank you so much for this coverage and the continuing updates. I'm sure people en route to Paris are watching closely, as are lovers of culture and this great city everywhere.
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Post by chexbres on Jun 2, 2016 19:36:37 GMT
Square du Vert Galant is underwater, as of tonight's newscast.
Buses and traffic were being re-routed tonight from Bastille running along the quais - presumably the city will install flood barriers at certain Metro stations.
Plans are to open the floodgates near Paris, if and when the situation becomes dire. It is expected to take at least one week for the water to go down.
I'm glad I've done all my laundry, have filled bottles with water to flush the toilet (since I don't have a bathtub), have enough canned goods and dog provisions, made a bunch of ice cubes and made a visit to the wine shop. I doubt things will be as bad in Paris as in other places where the electricity has gone out, but old habits die hard.
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Post by htmb on Jun 2, 2016 19:39:54 GMT
Looks pretty grim. Thanks for the update, Kerouac.
Mossie, thanks for your concern. I whine a lot, but doubt the flooding will have much of an impact on my trip unless it gets massively worse. Let's hope, for the city of Paris and its people, that doesn't happen.
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Post by gabriele on Jun 2, 2016 19:55:42 GMT
Fantastic report. However damaging and disrupting the flooding is, it's still awesome (in the old fashioned sense of the word) to behold. The sculptures....my first thought was to wonder what nicknames the locals had given them...some undoubtedly political, a few very creative... Here's the actual titles courtesy of the artist's gallery www.artsy.net/show/galerie-agnes-monplaisir-la-passerelle-enchantee
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2016 20:11:04 GMT
Thank you for the link, gabriele. That is a much shorter exhibition than I thought if it is already going to be finished on June 12th. It seems like an awful lot of work to put those items there for such a short time.
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Post by htmb on Jun 2, 2016 20:30:27 GMT
I agree
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Post by tod2 on Jun 3, 2016 7:45:06 GMT
Only this morning did I learn of the flooding in Paris - so of course I immediately knew Kerouac would have the very latest update and photos. How right I was! Fantastic to see everything in detail and be able to go back and scrutinize different areas. My first thoughts were of the young man I met last year living alongside the river under Pont Louis Phillipe: imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/907/MFsP9H.jpgThen I started wondering if the new tree planted about 8 years ago? to replace the Willow tree that succumbed to flooding, would also be affected. It is the one on the very end in Kerouac's photo of the Square du Vert Galant. I have a photo of myself next to it when just a young sapling.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 9:48:17 GMT
Yesterday evening they closed the Saint Michel metro station because it sprang a leak in spite of its boiler plate walls. Trains are still passing through the station, though.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 9:58:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 10:12:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 10:23:26 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 3, 2016 10:36:21 GMT
Good grief! What's the prediction for the future? Is this supposed to get worse before conditions begin to improve?
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Post by bjd on Jun 3, 2016 10:46:03 GMT
No. The zouave had water to his waist according to the 12:00 news. The water is supposed to reach about 6.20 metres above it's usual height and then start to go down sometime this weekend.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 12:38:29 GMT
Le Monde says the water has just reached 6 metres and might reach a high point of 6.50 this evening before beginning to recede.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 12:49:02 GMT
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Post by lola on Jun 3, 2016 13:19:20 GMT
Oh, my. Excellent report, Kerouac. Wonderful photos. Thank you!
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Post by tod2 on Jun 3, 2016 13:20:57 GMT
Definitely weather for ducks! At least something is getting enjoyment out of the floods. Very interesting to see the area around Javel and Pont Garigliano as that was to be our area of riverside walking this September. The Louvre looks like they have got everything under splendid control.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 3, 2016 15:23:21 GMT
The Seine has certainly amped up the drama since yesterday's batch of photos! I have to repeat myself and say what fabulous coverage this is, Kerouac.
The overburdened storm drain and the service station in #42, along with the the collapsing retaining wall in #43 are grim reminders of the contamination the flood is causing. Also, you have to wonder how the other flood-threatened walls are faring.
Re: the sculpture exhibition ~ I read that a series of exhibitions are planned for that bridge, so apparently something will move in to replace the mythological figures on June 12.
Besides the excellent reportage, you have certainly extracted some beauty from this weather calamity, Kerouac. There are many lyrically beautiful pictures in this report.
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Post by htmb on Jun 3, 2016 20:45:00 GMT
Our very own man on the stream street!
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Post by lagatta on Jun 3, 2016 21:01:31 GMT
The authorities seem to have the situation under control; bravo. (It isn't 'news" when things go well).
Where are the evacuees from the flooded towns being housed? I trust that they aren't in a situation as horrible as all those people in New Orleans after Katrina, in the stadium...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2016 21:40:08 GMT
People with no family or friends who can take them in immediately have been sleeping on cots in school gymnasiums, the same as in so many other places. My colleague from Moret-sur-Loing who lives in a non-flooded house in the totally flooded town told me that the electricity was turned off yesterday. Her family has remained at home for the time being because the gas still works. Both she and her husband work in Paris, so she could stay with a daughter who lives in Paris is things became desperate.
I will have more photos of different areas tomorrow.
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Post by gabriele on Jun 3, 2016 22:12:08 GMT
Seems the limited time for the artist's exhibition is for the gallery (different exhibit), the one on the bridge is for a much longer period: news.artnet.com/art-world/daniel-hourdc3s-enchanted-installation-haunts-pariss-love-lock-bridge-505505"The installation is presented by Galerie Agnès Monplaisir, in conjunction with a solo show by the artist at the gallery, on view through July 30, 2016. "The Enchanted Footbridge" runs through December 6, 2016" So, lots of time to see the exhibit and news coverage of the flooding may mean more photos of it (other countries) and more visitors to see it. I lived in a rural area in California and there were sometimes big floods even though one river was controlled by a dam. The river could rise 3 meters in an afternoon which gave little warning and as Kerouac's photos showed, brought trees and such with it. At least the French have plans for flooding; when it happens in the UK it's like chicken little running around but instead of the sky falling it's the water rising. Like you K2, I like Montmartre...those who thought it a good place to stay are rewarded for their wisdom and taste. I wonder if the view from Sacre Coeur gives a sense of the extent of the flood's effect.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 10:00:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2016 10:11:19 GMT
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Post by htmb on Jun 4, 2016 10:31:02 GMT
This is an excellent report and your efforts are much appreciated.
I imagine it's unusual for you to spend so many consecutive days down along the riverside.
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Post by bjd on Jun 4, 2016 11:15:54 GMT
I wonder how the private boats in the Bassin de l'Arsenal are doing.
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Post by htmb on Jun 4, 2016 11:28:28 GMT
I've enjoyed seeing the many examples of French humor. Hadn't seen that one, Bjd.
I was looking for something to read last night and thought it appropriate to re-read Zola's The Flood.
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