While the demonstrators beat the streets of Paris to protest against the health pass this Saturday, Parisians are taking over the parks and gardens of the capital to sunbathe. During this most hollow weekend of the summer, many of them had dropped shorts, T-shirts, skirts and dresses to bask in swimsuits on the lawns of Parisian parks. The scene is not new but with the health crisis which has hampered departures on vacation and the capricious weather of recent weeks, more of them are taking refuge in the green spaces of the capital to enjoy the sun which is finally back. on Paris.
Marie, recently retired, is a regular at Parc Monceau (8th century).
“I used to come here in the spring to take the first colors before going on vacation.
But this summer, I stayed in Paris because of the Covid and Parc Monceau became my beach.
We console ourselves as best we can, ”sighs the languid Parisian on her towel in a one-piece swimsuit at the foot of a tree.
“A few years ago, I was in top less.
Today, no one removes the top.
Society has changed.
And besides, I myself was a little surprised to meet young girls in mini swimsuits in front of the Invalides.
I found that they were out of place, ”she observes.
“I regret having to keep my
bra on.
J
e will have trademark when I arrive on the beach "
Straw hat screwed onto her head, Aline, 46, comes to spend her first day of vacation in Monceau. "I am waiting for my son to return to Paris to go to the seaside and I have come to enjoy the sun which has become scarce in recent weeks", confides this graphic designer. “I got kicked out of Batignolles Park a few days ago. So I came here. There is space. But I regret that I have to keep my
bra on. J
e will have trademark when I arrive on the beach. Anyway, I'm not going to go on forever because I forgot my book at home, ”the Parisienne suddenly annoys.
Saturday August 14, Parc Monceau (17th century): Parisians who have not gone on vacation take over the lawns of the parks and gardens of the capital to sunbathe in their swimsuits, as here in Monceau Christine Henry
Stéphane, 42, could not leave for the weekend to join his family for lack of a health pass and also found refuge in Parc Monceau where he had a picnic.
“I took a few colors in July in Brittany and I'm coming to polish my tan,” he laughs.
There are more people than in previous summers, no doubt because of the health crisis ”.
Alone, this Parisian, passes the time by playing Pokémon.
“I've caught a number of them since the start of the afternoon,” he says.
" It's good for morale "
A little further on, two young girls, glasses on their noses, are lounging on their napkins. They are medical school students and have not been able to return for the holidays to Egypt where their family lives because of the Covid. “We spend the whole summer in Paris and luckily, there are the parks. Of course it is not the beach but we can enjoy the sun from the start of the week. It's not good for the skin, but it's good for morale, ”smiles Liliane. “You couldn't sunbathe like that in a park in Egypt,” Loujaine points out, just to be right.
In the capital, the regulation of parks and gardens of the City of Paris specifies that "the wearing of bathing suits is authorized only on lawns" on condition "not to disturb the public order". On the other hand, it remains prohibited in the gardens of the Palais-Royal, the Tuileries, plants and Luxembourg that do not belong to the City.