Rue de Seine, January 1910
New Orleans, August 2005
Your taste of life in Paris and France
ParlerParis.com
Monday, August 30, 2010 • Paris, France
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Five years ago my family hopped into the car with their pets and drove all night long to Houston to avoid the hurricane called Katrina that was threatening to hit the city of New Orleans with a big bang. They had enough clothing for just a weekend and my sister tells the tale that she was just wearing a pair of thong sandals thinking they'd be home in a couple of days. They didn't have a clue that they wouldn't be able to return to the city till just before Thanksgiving.
This morning I watched President Obama speak before New Orleanians and the world to take responsibility for the "shameful breakdown" of government that contributed to the death of more than 1,800 people and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people, not to mention the destruction of one of the most culturally rich cities of the U.S. for which we have to thank for jazz, jambalaya, "yat" (a dialect), Mardi Gras and the Saints football team, among a zillion other things for which we are all grateful.
In my inbox and again on Facebook, was a reminder, thanks to
Vince Vance (a musician who's career began on Bourbon Street in the early '70s) with a new video called "I am New Orleans." If you know the city at all, you will love his rendition and maybe you'll even cry through it like I did. Click here to see it.
My own family, who has remained loyal to the city ("La Nouvelle-Orléans") that was founded in May 1718 by the French Mississippi Company, under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and named after Philippe d'Orléans, Duke of Orléans, Regent of France, has suffered mercilessly as a result of the disaster, while I remain cool and comfortable floating on the Seine in the City of Light.
That's where I was Saturday night, with the Internationals in Paris Meetup Group which partied on board the River's King Houseboat cruising the Seine while hundreds aboard ate, drank, danced, mingled and partied.
It was something I'd never done before -- another one of those Paris experiences that one needs a lifetime to discover, with so many possible activities in the city that last flooded in January of 1910. This is when the Seine, carrying winter rains from its tributaries, flooded Paris and several nearby communities.
The water didn't overflow the banks, but seeped up through the tunnels and sewers and drains causing massive flooding in the city and surrounding terrain. Boats and wooden walkways replaced all other forms of transportation and refugees gathered in shelters in public buildings. The water rose to a height of 8.62 meters (28.28 feet) above its normal level.
The Seine is a vibrant bloodline from which one can have a truly unique perspective of Paris. As we floated down river and turned around the Ile Saint-Louis, dozens of other boats passed by, many of which were glowing with romantically lit dining tables showing off happy celebrations of birthdays and weddings. The views of the buildings which line the river take your breath away -- could La Tour Eiffel look any more stunning as she glows and casts her shimmery light on the gently flowing watery surface?
Today, when purchasing a property, the Notaire is obligated to provide a diagnostic showing if the property is located in a flood area or not. At each title signing, we chuckle about how that happened more than 100 years ago, but maybe we shouldn't be taking it so lightly?!
Adrian Leeds
Editor, Parler Paris
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P.S. There's another Meetup for Internationals in Paris this coming September 4th on the River's King. Visit www.meetup.com/internationalsinparis for more information.
P.P.S. Celebrate "La Rentrée" September 4th with a FREE lunch! Join us at the Parler Parlor French-English Conversation Group for a FREE lunch of sandwiches and sweets to all who attend, plus memberships will be on special sale that day! Visit www.parlerparlor.com for more information.
