Paris, France (The River Seine)
My Own Tests Before Swimming in the Seine
Paris has opened the Seine for swimming again, with daily water tests. I added a few tests of my own.
Paris opened the River Seine for swimming again, for a second summer, right after a record heatwave. There are three free spots with lifeguards, and the water is tested every day before they open. One spot has a view of the Eiffel Tower. I ran some tests of my own.
My Tests
- The toe test. One toe in. Cold, then nice. Passed.
- The view test. Eiffel Tower: present. I checked twice. Passed.
- The duck test. A duck swam by, looking happy. Passed.
- The crowd test. The Grenelle spot takes 200 people at a time, with up to 150 in the water. I counted. I was number 151, so I waited my turn. Passed, eventually.
- The style test. My swimsuit has my initials on it. Passed, with honors.
The Swim
When my turn came, I swam one length, then floated on my back for a long time, looking up at the tower. A lifeguard checked on me. I told her I’d never been better. I was in Paris, in a river, in July, and the river had passed every one of my tests.
I’m fairly sure I passed the river’s tests too. Nobody told me otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it cost anything?
No, it's free, and you don't need to book. You just show up with a towel and a big smile, like me.
Why test the water every day?
To make sure it's clean enough before they open. I respect that. I test my bathwater too, with one toe.