Olympic Fever is Rising , Unfortunately So Are Barricades

There’s definitely an increased buzz in the streets.  Though Paris is full of tourists year-round, the energy seems pumped up more than usual.

Olympic fever is mounting, but parts of Paris have never looked so barricaded, an unfortunate necessity these days to protect human lives during the games.

These restrictions are disrupting public transport, both bus, Metro and RER, with several stations closed.  With some bridges and parts of the city cordoned off, only residents or workers with a preapproved QR code will be allowed through.

This overt freneticism is made even more evident in contrast to an ordinary July and August, when Paris starts to become somewhat quieter, as Parisians trek out of the city for the beaches or mountain air.

Whereas the sight of small restaurants starting to close for summer vacation was the norm, now there are areas of the city closed off with ugly metal fencing.  As expected, complaints have started.

Some of us will have our daily routines in disarray.  As in life, changes can also be an opportunity to discover new ways or new venues.   I choose to approach restrictions I encounter in this light, and besides it is only temporary!

The last few days I have been going around to some of the sites where Olympic events will take place.   In so far as the basic outward signs of accommodating the thousands of visitors, all looks prepared, with strict security measures already tightly in place.

Even the waters of the Seine came through, cleaner than ever!  With bacterial counts now in accepted norms, the mayor of Paris jumped in yesterday to inaugurate safe swimming.

In 2021, her son swam the 777 kilometres of the Seine from the source to the mouth at Le Havre.  From my humble viewpoint, the strong currents looked really rough, with waters constantly churned up by tourist boats and barges.

Paris decided instead of just using stadiums for the varied Olympic competitions, they would deploy famous outdoor settings throughout the city.  That sounded great!

The downside of all this, is that the landscape of the city and her most beautiful edifices are now temporarily disfigured by the unsightly metal fencing, seating and barricades in some of the most heavily sought out areas.

Fortunately, the plaza in front of Notre Dame, will not be a backdrop of any competitions! Cranes are still hovering over the cathedral with continued renovations, as of last Friday.

Nevertheless, her beauty will start to take on a golden glow as the opening ceremonial boat parade glides down the Seine past this magnificent cornerstone of Paris.

The boat parade will start at Gare Austerlitz at 7:30 pm Paris time and continue to Trocadero in front of La Tour Eiffel, ending a little after sunset at 9:37 pm.

Therefore, the visitors and those watching on television will be treated to a magnificent array of some of the most beautiful sites of Paris, albeit mangled with bleachers.

I felt sorry for tourists hoping to see all the beauty that Paris offers, probably walking away disappointed that they weren’t allowed to completely see these masterpieces, due to security measures.

A case in point was Place Trocadéro, where the vast terrace overlooks the magnificent fountains and gardens below, framed above by the Eiffel Tower, across the Seine.

This area was chosen to host the Triathlon, para-triathlon and part of the 10 km free swimming events.

I was surprised they were checking purses and totes going up the stairs to the terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower.  The Palais de Chaillot gardens and fountains ordinarily look like this from a photo taken from La Tour Eiffel.

The breezy green fields, Champs de Mars, behind the Eiffel Tower has a temporary stadium and arena, that will be removed after the games.

Half of the terrace was blocked off, so I was unable to get a photo of the fountains below. Now, bleachers are set up on both sides of the fountains.

In past summers kids often jumped in to cool off splashing around amid the gushing water spouts.    Olympic ticket holders though should have excellent views which they rightly deserve!

The most visibly marred is Place Concord.  Except for the towering  Obelisk, and the Magdalene church in the background, it looks almost unrecognizable, at least from the street level!

Metal scaffolding, skate ramps and bleachers now dot the entire space.  The elegant lamp posts with globes of light look strangely misplaced against the metallic jungle gym surrounding them.

Concord has been cordoned off for several weeks, ever since construction of the skateboard ramps began.  Now, not only pedestrians, but buses can not go through either.

Long stretches on both sides of the Seine are off limits, including several bridges, making it a guess for all where to cross the Seine.

Yesterday, I was walking around the Louvre and alongside the Tuilleries Gardens, facing the Seine, I saw several tourists and residents trying to get past this puzzling quagmire, asking policemen where to go.   Fortunately, I have a very good geographic memory of the locale, so can back up and find other ways to circumvent obstacles.

One can no longer walk the length of the Tuilleries gardens from the Louvre to Place Concord.

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, at the beginning of the Tuilleries, allows for only a short walk before the Grand Basin, where ordinarily you would see little boys and girls sailing toy boats, is now cordoned off.

The Olympic flame which travelled throughout France and most recently the streets of Paris, will be put in the center of the basin.

I was glad to see the glass Pyramid and Louvre in plain view.   Musée d’Orsay, seen from across the Seine was framed with fencing.

This weekend, I walked along the Seine on the left bank around the Pont Alexandre, the most beautiful bridge in Paris.  On one side blue bleachers that will offer expensive seating now mar somewhat its beauty.

Graced with ornate figurines and huge golden statues at both ends, it leads to the Grand Palais on the right bank, where the fencing competition will take place.

Bleachers are also set on the banks of the Seine for ticket holders with deep pockets, who paid for the opening ceremony, free swimming, cycling and the triathlon.  Several barge restaurant bars will remain open, also offering outstanding views of the river and bridge.  These include Rivera Fuga, Le Flow, and Rosa Bonheur.

The Esplanade  des Invalides will hold the archery event, seen in a photo before the games.  The tomb of Napoleon rests under the ornate golden dome in the background.  Given his fame as an astute general, Napoleon Bonaparte would certainly approve.

Parisians are proud to be the host city of the Summer Olympics.  Although there is obvious grumbling from some about the restrictions, which are disruptive but necessary, they are all temporary and come autumn, all the fabulous beauty of Paris will be completely restored!