NPR

Locals Escape Summer's Heat With A Dip In A Parisian Canal

"It's nice to float on your back to see the architecture and the urban space around," says French journalist Julie Pacaud. "It's another way to experience the city."
The Paris municipality opened the Canal De L'Ourcq to swimmers this summer. Mayor Anne Hidalgo wants to open three pools on the Seine River by 2024, when the city is scheduled to host the Olympics.

It's a hot summer day, and 8-year-old Zak Ballenger and his 5-year-old sister, Alison, are doing something they've never done in Paris.

They're diving into the cold, murky waters of a city canal.

"I like splashing around," Zak says, "because it's hot outside."

His mom, Celina Ballenger, is a 38-year-old nurse. She says she couldn't afford a vacation this year.

"So we've come here because we can't go

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
Venus And Earth Used To Look Like 'Twin' Planets. What Happened?
Earth, Mars and Venus all looked pretty similar when they first formed. Today, Mars is dry, cold, and dusty; Venus has a hot, crushing atmosphere. Why did these sibling planets turn out so different?
NPR3 min readLGBTQIA+ Studies
Activists Flood Utah Tip Line With Hoax Reports To Block Bathroom Law Enforcement
Activists have flooded the tip line with thousands of hoax reports in an effort to shield trans residents and their allies from any legitimate complaints that could lead to an investigation.
NPR5 min read
Oil Industry Could Help The Biden Administration Tap 'Invisible' Green Energy
The White House wants a twenty-fold increase in geothermal energy production to fight climate change and it's counting on the oil and gas industry for help.

Related Books & Audiobooks