Start the week

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For the last six weeks or so, parts of Paris and the Seine have been transformed into a bit of a beach.

Yesterday was the last day, so i thought i'd make an effort and dodging the showers, i headed on over for a look ...

Starting out from the giant sand box in-front of the mayors office then on to the Pont Neuf bridge, i was surprised at how many people were out and also at the range of activities on offer ...


As i came out from under the bridge i stumbled into a huge crowd of people blocking off the road - they all seemed subjugated by a pretty evil looking clown making 'things' out of balloons (here a teddy bear) for the modest donation of 1€. The queue was unfeasibly long with squealing and chirruping kids.


The guy was very quick but, y'know .. i just couldn't imagine myself doing that for hundreds of kids on the trot .. one or two as a party trick, but not for half the kids in Paris and the outlaying area.

A wee bit further along the quai, i found this thing : bamboo + a humidity spray going full blast under already threateningly dark and leadened skies ...


I think, probably though, the highlight for me was watching the guy underneath doing a silent routine ... he used music and childrens toys to tell us a humouristic and moving tale about loss and love * ahhh*


A very charming thing indeed and i have to say, that i find people who're capable of pulling something off like that in front of decent sized crowd, are very special people.

After the emotion, the excitment (for kids,that is) .. a climbing wall


Finally, an outdoor dance hall had been set up with huge speakers which were blaring out rock 'n' roll music ... much to the pleasure of about a hundred people all bopping, jiving and throwing their partners around


It was at this point that the heavens finally opened and put a stop to the proceedings.

In the ensuing deluge, i completely was caught out and eventually made my way home thoroughly drenched ... right through to my bones (the words 'rat', 'drowned' and 'looks like' come to mind)