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Paris Welcomes Back Iconic Café Waiters’ Race After 13-Year Hiatus

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The iconic Parisian event known as the Café Waiters’ Race, where service staff speedily navigate through the city while balancing trays of hot drinks and croissants, has made a triumphant return after a hiatus since 2011.

Originating in 1914 as the Course Des Café, this tradition has seen nearly 300 Parisian waiters, donned in their work attire, racing a 1.2-mile course to and from the city hall adjacent to the Seine river. The challenge mandates participants to carry the tray, laden with a quintessential French breakfast of coffee, croissant, and water, with precision and poise, ensuring not a single drop is spilled. Upon reaching the finish line, judges meticulously inspect trays for any spillage.

This year, Samy Lamrous claimed victory in the men’s category, completing the course in a swift 13 minutes and 30 seconds, while Pauline Van Wymeersch triumphed in the women’s division with a time of 14 minutes and 12 seconds. Both winners were honored with medals bestowed by the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, along with a complimentary night’s stay in a luxurious hotel.

Eau de Paris, the city’s water authority and the event’s sponsor, expressed their delight, stating, “This Sunday, nearly 300 waitresses and waiters took on an original challenge in the heart of Paris and brought a legendary event back to life! Here are the medal-winning athletes. Congratulations to all!”

While the Parisian race holds historical significance, similar events were once popular in London and Berlin. However, the inaugural race in 1914 cemented Paris as its birthplace. Following a pause in 2011 due to sponsorship issues, other French towns like Marseille continued the tradition, keeping the spirit alive.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

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Paris Reintroduces Swimming in the Seine River After a Century

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With one year left until the Olympics, Paris is in the final stages of an unprecedented cleanup effort, paving the way for swimmers and divers to return to the River Seine. Swimming in the Seine had been prohibited for a century due to its polluted waters, but a successful €1.4bn regeneration project has changed the landscape. The upcoming Games will feature three Olympic and Paralympic events taking place in the Seine, and by 2025, three open-air swimming areas will be accessible from the quayside.

The city’s river quality had deteriorated over the years due to industrial sewage and a growing population, leading to a decline in aquatic life. One of the main challenges was the outdated drainage system, which combined used water from kitchens and bathrooms with sewage from toilets. However, improvements in the last two decades have already significantly reduced the presence of harmful bacteria in the river.

To address the remaining issue, a vast underground reservoir has been constructed to store runoff during heavy rains, preventing it from directly entering the Seine. This will enable the river to be officially classified as clean and safe for public bathing.

In addition to fish returning to the Seine, including some reintroduced by angling associations, the river’s ecosystem has seen a positive transformation with the resurgence of molluscs, aquatic insects, sponges, and crayfish. Although some concerns remain about rats in the city, studies have shown that the amount of leptospirosis bacteria is not abnormally high.

With the successful cleanup efforts, Mayor Anne Hidalgo has revealed three spots along the Seine that will be open for public bathing from summer 2025, allowing both fish and humans to reclaim their place in the revitalized river.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright