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<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAt the foot of the Eiffel Tower, right next to the Bir-Hakeim bridge where the metro runs overhead, signs and footprints painted on the pavement guide you to the entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019m facing a short queue, but things move quickly: as soon as some people leave the \u201cbase\u201d, others are allowed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what exactly is this place? They’ve basically sectioned off a stretch of the Seine about the length of an Olympic swimming pool (50 metres) and, by my best guess, no more than 15-20 metres wide, and opened it to the public. A maximum of 150 people are allowed in at any one time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Admission is free! You just show up with your swimsuit, towel and whatever else you need, and they’ll let you in with whatever they<\/em> approve of \ud83d\ude42 Meaning: no animals, no food…<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the entrance, there’s an information board displaying the water temperature, wind speed, current, water quality and so on. On July 10th, the figures were: 37\u00b0C outside, 25\u00b0C water temperature, a flow rate of 50 m\u00b3\/s, 16 km\/h winds, \u201cgood\u201d water quality, a UV index of 7, and a green flag flying, meaning there were no restrictions. Well, actually, there was one: no sunbathing between noon and 4 p.m. because of the heatwave. By \u201csunbathing\u201d, they mean you’re not allowed to lie around on the wooden deck by the water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The staff at the entrance are all young and extremely friendly. One manages the queue, others check everyone’s bags, whether you’ve brought a handbag or a suitcase (one couple even showed up with their airport luggage!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n I also overhear an exchange between them and a team of gendarmes. Uh-oh, what happened? I hope we’re not about to evacuate the place for some mysterious reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gendarmes report something over the radio, then leave, and we’re allowed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s also an open-air shower area with cold showers operated by pulling a chain, and drinking fountains where you can refill with as much water as you’d like. Bottles, however, aren’t allowed inside the swimming area \u2013 you’ll be asked to leave them in the lockers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There’s even a first-aid station, ready to help if you injure yourself on something. I happen to spot a young woman getting her foot bandaged after managing to scrape it somehow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There seem to be plenty of lifeguards around. They’re dressed in fluorescent yellow so they’re impossible to miss, all keeping a close eye on what’s happening both in and out of the water. One of them quickly ushers a few people lingering by the edge into the \u201cwaves\u201d, lest they fall victim to the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’re not allowed into the water unless you wear an inflatable buoy around your waist. Whether you’re David Popovici or someone who’s never swum a day in their life makes no difference \u2013 you’ll be paddling around with your little float attached to you. I ask one of the lifeguards how deep the water is. \u201cThree to four metres\u201d, she replies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, boy… swimming in the Seine with the Eiffel Tower right in front of you?? It doesn’t get much better than that!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The water? Warm. And somewhat cleaner than the river I used to swim in as a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a while of wandering back and forth in the water, I decide to take my phone into the water to film. Why do I do these things? \ud83d\ude42 I even attempt a selfie, but it’s impossible to keep my eyes open with the sun blazing down on me. Still, I refuse to give up \u2013 I go back for my sunglasses!<\/p>\n\n\n\n I take my selfie (well, several of them!) before heading back to safely stash my phone and get rid of the sunglasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The lifeguard who watched me, thoroughly amused by my struggle with my phone in the Seine, turns out to be Ukrainian. He’s been living in France for four years, already speaks the language fluently, and when he’s not earning money here or studying, he’s a competitive water polo player. Since we’re practically neighbours, after all, I take the opportunity to ask him a few more questions. For instance, whether they’ve ever had to close the swimming area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes\u201d, he says. \u201cOnly once, because of heavy rain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, water quality is one of the main reasons they might shut it down. The water is tested every two hours and, if it doesn’t meet the required standards, they’ll have everyone out of the Seine in no time \u2013 they don’t want anyone’s health on their conscience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPARIS EN SEINE \u2013 BAIGNADE GRENELLE<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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