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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 12:55:31 GMT
Hot weather -- particularly without air conditioning -- seems to be unbearable to a lot of people. However, I consider it to be such a novelty in Paris that I appreciate the opportunity to go out at the end of the day rather than sweltering in my apartment. It must be mentioned that although the temperature was only 35° yesterday, it is supposed to get up to 37° today and one has to be prepared to sweat, day or night. If one is to believe what is seen in television commercials, sweating is now considered to be an unacceptable deviance except when exercising but I rather like seeing my body do all of the things that a body should do, and perspiration in extreme heat is one of them. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 13:12:27 GMT
Technically, it is not authorised to swim in the Bassin de la Villette. For a long time this was just common sense in terms of pollution, but last year an official swimming competition was held there for the first time in 60 years, which would imply that the water quality is now acceptable. The event is being held again this year, but in any case in weather like this, people do not always wait for authorisation. It is unlikely that any fines will be given, but I'm quite sure that there will be plenty of official warnings due to all of the navigation that goes through there. Perhaps by next summer there will be a roped off safe area for people to take a dip. Nobody seemed to care last night. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 13:39:14 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 14:21:13 GMT
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Post by htmb on Aug 25, 2016 14:32:30 GMT
Fun times, and super pictures, Kerouac! Having been in Paris during the heat wave last summer, I do not blame any of the young people for jumping into the canal. It must have been quite a relief to get into the water. I do, however, question their idea of diving off the bridge due to the shallowness of the canal.
I loved the picture of the dog sitting patiently, and the silhouettes in the last few photos are very nice. All the colored lights seem to add to the festive mood.
Love, love love the second Pont de Crimée cafe picture! Nice light through the windows and motion!
Stay cool and drink lots of water!
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Post by mossie on Aug 25, 2016 14:48:22 GMT
I had never seen people swimming in the Bassin and always assumed it was quite deep, having once been part of the Port of Paris where goods were brought into the city.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 25, 2016 15:08:08 GMT
Can't believe what great night pictures you got! It all looks like a lot of fun and the perfect way to embrace the heat wave rather than fighting it.
Mossie's comment made me go look up the Bassin. Its original purpose was as a reservoir for drinking water! Wikipedia also provided the information that the Bassin is 699 meters long and 70 meters wide, but nothing about the depth.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 15:24:36 GMT
I would like this as a print to hang over my couch, please. Very painterly. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 15:25:53 GMT
The Canal de l'Ourcq is considered to be 1.50m deep, which isn't much. I think I remember reading that the middle of the Bassin de la Villette is something like 1.90m deep. Canal barges are made for relatively shallow water.
I also remember a newspaper article many years ago about some thugs trying to drown somebody in the canal and failing to do so. The article said something about them throwing him in the canal "but in most places you can stand up in it."
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2016 15:27:25 GMT
I would like this as a print to hang over my couch, please. Very painterly. It's still very hot. I might get some new ones tonight.  |
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Post by htmb on Aug 25, 2016 15:29:20 GMT
How about a few underwater shots?  |
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Post by patricklondon on Aug 25, 2016 16:30:24 GMT
I also remember a newspaper article many years ago about some thugs trying to drown somebody in the canal and failing to do so. The article said something about them throwing him in the canal "but in most places you can stand up in it." Doesn't that rather muck up a plot line in the last series of Engrenages? Or maybe that was some other body of water. Nice photos of one of my favourite haunts in Paris. My blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam" |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 13:26:26 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 13:31:54 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2016 13:36:41 GMT
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Post by bjd on Aug 27, 2016 13:59:15 GMT
Those are not tightropes. They are called slacklines and have been around for a few years now.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2016 14:04:37 GMT
Yes, I know they are slacklines, but people tend to generically call them tightropes, too. I was just surprised that people carry them around to set up in parks.
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Post by htmb on Aug 27, 2016 14:14:32 GMT
Even the sunset looks hot!
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 27, 2016 14:31:20 GMT
So many great candid shots, and at a difficult time of day to get them, too. I particularly love the one of "people were still jumping off the bridge", with one guy peeping into the frame and the other just about to let go. This thread really captures a populace having fun and very much at home in their city.
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Post by mossie on Aug 27, 2016 15:28:34 GMT
I should put this in another place "something I learnt today", because I had never heard of slacklines. I notice even the all important spellcheck doesn't recognise the word either so I don't feel so bad about it.
Anyway, thanks a lot Kerouac for this series of shots, making me long to be walking along there again. Only 19 days to go until I do, Hooray.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2016 7:38:11 GMT
The Préfecture has now officially authorised today's swimming event and has additionally stated that the quality of the water is perfectly fine. The Canal de l'Ourcq is pure, and the water in the Bassin de la Villette comes directly from that canal. The city has already announced plans for a permanent swimming spot in the basin next summer.
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Post by lagatta on Aug 28, 2016 11:46:23 GMT
Yes, the main problem now seems to be the existence of various types of craft and swimmers. But it is certainly progress.
Damn that Daech, not only shooting people and blowing them up, but not letting people have fun watching films on a summer evening. And in an area with large immigrant populations...
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Post by northie on Aug 29, 2016 0:12:54 GMT
Love seeing the locals living their lives on the street like this - fun, picnics , games - a city using its facilities . Great shots
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Post by kerouac2 on Mar 6, 2019 18:58:51 GMT
Waking this thread up to remind us of summer being on the way.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 5, 2019 4:42:59 GMT
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 5, 2019 4:47:37 GMT
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Post by bjd on Jun 5, 2019 6:39:17 GMT
There was a vide-grenier here too this weekend, though of course much smaller. I like to have a look but quickly get overwhelmed by the amounts of stuff. There are sometimes bargains but an awful lot of junk too.
They have become very popular in the past years and even have a dedicated website telling you where they are in each department.
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Post by lagatta on Jun 5, 2019 11:38:30 GMT
A lot of that junk looks like very low-end junk. I like such sales as well, though. However, aren't such places magnets for pickpockets?
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Post by kerouac2 on Jun 5, 2019 12:37:07 GMT
A lot of the sellers were ragpickers (biffins); others were professionals. We don't get a lot of pickpockets in this area because most pockets are empty.
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Post by fumobici on Jun 5, 2019 13:44:31 GMT
This is kind of the antithesis of the market at the Bassin de l'Arsenal. I'd rather look at the goods at Arsenal, but I'd probably be more likely to actually buy something here at this one.
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