In a swimsuit and with a mask? “It's great that it opens… If everyone pays attention”: like Bruno, a 55-year-old Francilien, Parisians and a few little masked tourists took over the banks of the Seine this Saturday, which will host the 19th edition of Paris Plages, adapted this year to sanitary measures.
For this new edition, more than fifty events (cultural, fun and sporting) are planned along the Rives de Seine park and the Bassin de la Villette. The fairly sparse public found the traditional deckchairs, parasols, picnic tables, construction games, pétanque as well as tai chi lessons, nautical activities and a free swim in the La Villette basin on Saturday morning.
"A special summer" in the age of coronavirus
The traditional blue flags fluttering in the wind indicate to passers-by from the Quai de l'Hotel de Ville that Paris Plages is launched. But for "a particular summer" at the time of the coronavirus, specify the panels installed by the City of Paris.
Pierre, 60 years old, without mask, is one of the “regulars” of the tai-chi lessons at Paris Plages. "For 4 years, I come every day, as soon as it opens and for the whole summer, to practice my two hours of sport, it's great," says this Parisian who lives in the 14th arrondissement of Paris. Fear of the coronavirus? "We are careful, including during the course, to keep the necessary distance, everything is going well," he smiles.
A little further, a team of ten "beach attendants" are busy to set up the last deckchairs, parasols. A woman, in her fifties, called out to them: "It's always the same people who are on the deckchairs, you know? " "Ah yes madam, but first come, first served! », Retorts a young beach attendant, red cap on his head.
"If there are too many people, turn around"
In the direction of Pont-Marie, where a concert is to start within an hour, Bruno walks with a determined step alongside his 8-year-old daughter. "We decided at the last minute this morning, but we thought it was nice to start the day with a concert of classical music by the water," explains this 55-year-old father who lives in the Val de Marne. "It's great, for Parisians, tourists, that it opens this year despite the health crisis," he said while regretting that "few people wear a mask".
If some arrived at the opening to have a place for lessons or concerts, others "fell on Paris Plages completely by chance". "We stroll to visit Paris, it's still more fun to go down on the quays and with Paris Plages it's very pleasant", rejoice Isabelle and Jean-Edouard, Lillois. "It is a special summer (...) because many Parisians will not go on vacation, we will have many fewer tourists this year too, and our wish was to allow those who are there, those who will come to visit (...) , to be able to take advantage of the city, of its exteriors (…) ”, said Saturday before the press the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, during the inauguration of Paris Plages. She added that it was "of course" necessary to "have adapted the health protocol to the situation of the epidemic, because we must remain extremely careful".
"I live next door, I will come, as every year, to regularly take a tour of Paris Plages but if I see that there are too many people, I will turn around so as not to put myself in danger", promises Noël , 65, cloth mask on the face.
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