,
Now that I had successfully outrun the horses, what else
could I check off my Parisian “not to be
missed” pink sneaker adventure list?
After all, the most memorable of vacations are those that don’t go quite
according to plan or that veer off the rails, as if seeking adventures of their
own, quite oblivious to the meticulously laid plans that were supposed to go
off without a glitch of a hitch.
And that is how I inadvertently stumbled upon a cornucopia
of not quite death defying, as that would be an exaggeration of the monumental
degree kind, but nonetheless intriguing, activities of the not so quite far-fetched kind.
Meandering along the banks of the Seine on a leisurely summer afternoon
led me to discover a playful side of the City of Lights, an easy breezy
summertime easy joie de vivre
encapsulated within the outdoor playground of Les Berges de Seine. Officially inaugurated to the public in June
2013, Les Berges offers a little bit of something for everyone, whether young
or old. Youngsters can delight in
scampering about the teepees and climbing walls, merrily hop-scotching their
way along the waterfront whilst their parents luxuriate in contended bliss and
languish the afternoon away in one of the numerous bistros and cafés overlooking
the Seine.
Not one to brave the sheer impossibility of delicately
balancing on a tight-rope, my pink sneaker clad tootsies recoiling at the
improbability of such a feat, I could only gawk in disbelief and delight at the
fortitude and resilience of the limber gymnasts as they performed their cirque du soleil like mesmerizing jumps
and leaps. Not one to push my luck as
well as the limits of middle-aged flexibility, as the likelihood of breaking a
few bones would definitely hamper my ability to scamper around the
cobble-stoned rues and avenues and increase my chances of having to spend a
fair length of time in le French hospital being tended to by les suave and charmingly handsome medics
(a la Grey’s Anatomy kind), would be a fate…. Hold on a minute here, on second
thought, where is that trampoline?
An urban landscape project that has successfully intertwined
2.3 kilometers of riverbank with pedestrian friendly promenades, les Berges de
Seine offers a multitude of activities that range from anything to
everything. Out-door fitness buffs can
skate, blade or cycle while the arts and crafts inclined are able to hone their
skills in any of the denizens of on the spot workshops offered throughout the
year. Stretching from le Museé d’Orsay
to Pont de l’Alma, les Berges combines the best of street art, outdoor
festivals and open-air green spaces, where both performers and spectators
converge in appreciation of the joie de vivre that is the City of Lights.
Come promenade, roller-blade or cartwheel
your way along the riverbanks of the Seine as you discover yet another element
of surprise in the ever-changing Parisian landscape. Come stroll along les Berges de Seine….
Next week – what next????? Stay tuned for
more pink-sneaker adventures!!
0 Response to "Where art and the riverbank converge at Les Berges de Seine"
Post a Comment