I posted this photo yesterday on Instagram and noticed it provoked a stronger reaction than I’d anticipated. People hold such love and concern for our city of light, but I just want to assure you that everything is perfectly under control. Well, sort of…
So you might have heard that the Louvre is moving art to higher ground. It makes a good headline but just remember we’re talking about the art they keep in the basement, and it’s just a precaution given the museum’s proximity to the Seine.
In fact, most Parisians probably haven’t really noticed that their city is experiencing the worst flood in over 100 years unless they’ve come down to the banks of the river Seine, which is where all the action is happening.
If anything, it’s an opportunity for someone like me to get out of the office and wander along the river during my lunch break to snap some pretty cool scenes that I’m unlikely to witness again in my lifetime.
So just to give you an idea of how much the water levels have risen…
Here’s a before & after shot of the Seine right by the Notre Dame ↑ In summer time, these riverbanks are usually full of people walking dogs, having picnics or waiting to board a boat tour.
But the only boats getting under Paris’ bridges at the moment are the lifeguard and police boats– and even the smallest ones are having a trouble squeezing under those arches. But my guess is they’re secretly having a grand old time.
The river has definitely become quite a source of entertainment these past few days…
And I tell ya, the ducks are loving it.
This is an island in the middle of the Pont Neuf where Parisians come dancing on warm summer evenings. The only moves you’d need here at the moment would be the breaststroke.
But honestly, I don’t think we’ll be needing one of these ↓ just yet…
I hope I don’t have to eat my words later, but I think we’ll be just fine. The suburbs of Paris are having a much more miserable time and getting their feet considerably more wet. I’m sure we’ll have our old Paris back in no time…
We’re pretty lucky we didn’t get it as bad as our ancestors did in 1910. Just to put things in perspective…
