Ascension Day

Rising Waters on the Seine

Another public holiday today for Ascension Day.  This is taken quite seriously in France with many shops closed and Church bells ringing out over the city. With Wednesday being a public holiday (VE Day) and today being one as well, many French will tomorrow "faire le pont" that is, "make a bridge" between the public holidays and the weekend by taking a day's leave, giving them a five day break.  Now, who says that only Australians do that sort of thing?

We took the opportunity to go down to see the rising waters of the Seine.  There have been extremely heavy rains, causing floods in the Northeast of France and the water has run down the Seine, reaching Paris.  It is interesting, but not too dramatic.  For those who know the walks along the banks of the river, the lower walks have now been flooded.  Still, it is nothing like the great flood of 1910 in which the waters reached 20 feet above their normal level.  Most of that flooding was a result of the water seeping into tunnels, sewers and underground.  Thousands were forced to evacuate their homes.  This doesn't look like it will even approach the levels of 1910, but it is still worrying.

Steps to Lower Walk

Ramp to Lower Walk

After lunch at a cafe we wandered over to admire the clock on the Conciergerie where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned before her execution. The wooden clock which dates from 1371,has recently been restored.  It was badly in need of the work since its last restoration was more than 100 years ago.

Before Restoration

After Restoration