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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2015 19:26:26 GMT
Paris has never forgotten the fatal heat wave of 2003, so now whenever a heat wave threatens, the city tries to think of new ways to make the situation more tolerable while of course not overlooking the extra measures that need to be taken concerning the elderly and weak. But another important point is how to create a bit of fun for all of the other people who are not really at risk but who don't really like being overheated either.
This week it was decided to keep five big parks open 24/24 at least through Sunday: Montsouris, André Citroën, Martin Luther King, Monceau and the Buttes Chaumont. While I did not go to make a report in the middle of the night, last night I went to visit the Buttes Chaumont at an hour when it would normally be closed, and I was able to see that Parisians continue to take advantage of every little bit of extra pleasure that they can find.
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Post by lola on Jul 5, 2015 15:47:09 GMT
I love how government in France seems to have the welfare of the people in mind. Striking really, and a contrast to what I'm used to at home.
We were in Gare du Nord at midday on Tuesday, in the 40C/104F midst of realizing that the Eurostar would be canceled the rest of the day. I stood in line for the Hall-Londres with my phone to my ear, hoping to save our trip home by getting tickets, while Hannah searched for a hotel room. Success on both counts. The entire scene was far more civilized and orderly than I might have thought.
It turns out that Paris is not all that bad a place to be stranded overnight. The desk clerk at Hotel Pas de Calais advised us NOT to go look for the Paris Plage: "Do you want to sweat? Do you want to be crowded in with the riffraff and smell fried foods? Stay in the air conditioning until it cools off late tonight or early in the morning!" (later he realized we were from St. Louis MO USA, and that we probably were ahead of him in the hot weather tips department.)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2015 16:10:03 GMT
Well, you were certainly ahead of Paris Plages, which doesn't start until 20 July this year -- but you would have had a similar experience just by walking over to the Canal Saint Martin or the Bassin de la Villette.  |
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Post by lola on Jul 5, 2015 17:36:25 GMT
Our amusing snob of a hotel clerk told us we could get the Paris Plage experience by taking the 13 Metro north. He must be used to a higher class clientele than ours. We didn't bother to tell him we have a few times taken and loved the 13 Metro line to St-Denis.
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Post by mossie on Jul 6, 2015 18:49:48 GMT
Thanks for the tour of my favourite Paris park. I always advise visitors to visit it
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Post by htmb on Jul 6, 2015 19:01:43 GMT
I haven't made it up to Buttes Chaumont this year. I need to try to fit it in.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2015 19:11:23 GMT
Considering the temperature, I was extremely disappointed that the waterfall grotto was closed and very disappointed that the belvedere was off limits since it is extremely rare for the park to be accessible up there exactly at sunset. I saw some young people climbing over the fence and they seemed to be having great fun scampering around, but that just doesn't correspond to my possibilities anymore.
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Post by htmb on Jul 6, 2015 19:26:56 GMT
I was at Parc Monceau today for the first time ever and, though semi-crowded with nannies, children and joggers, there were lots of free benches in the cool shade.
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Post by lagatta on Jul 9, 2015 1:21:01 GMT
I was sad to see those sights closed too. I have very romantic memories of that park.
I was thinking much the same as Kerouac, as I leapt over everything in the 1980s, to say nothing of earlier. I was having frightening thoughts, that I might have to take a cane or walking stick for some of those downhill slopes. (I have no problem climbing; it isn't a matter of muscular strength but arthritic joints).
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