Sunday 21 August 2011

SDP on tour....Two women of Paris Number 2: Josephine Baker


From the Simone de Beauvoir Bridge, shown yesterday, you can see the Piscine Josephine Baker  - a floating pool moored on the Seine. Of course, I had to check it out for a swim. Cameras are banned inside (why? is it concern over photos being taken of people in swimsuits in public?) so I had to sneak the shots below. For a modest sum ( 5 euros for 2 hours) I swam some 25 metre laps, on a day when it wasn't too crowded. I imagine that when Paris Plage (the "beach" set up along the river terraces) is in full swing, it gets very busy.

If you do want to swim, bear in mind that, like most pools in France, it is compulsory to wear a bathing cap.

Piscine Josephine Baker from Passerelle Simone de Beauvoir



Josephine Baker was an American who found fame in Paris as a singer and dancer. She was a French Resistance fighter, the first American woman to be awarded the Croix de Guerre. Baker was also awarded the Rosette de la Resistance and made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. She was active in the Civil Rights Movement in the US and refused to perform for segregated audiences.

I am not nearly as brave or intrepid; the only thing I did was suffer the wrath of a pool attendant who ticked me off for taking the photo at left. This particular piece of ingenuity is a moveable hair dryer, which adjusts up and down the runners according to desired height.

7 comments:

  1. Gutsy woman! Josephine Baker, not you Sally :) No wonder she loved Paris - she was arguably the most popular foreign entertainer working in that very exciting city. The Jazz Age was well named.

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  2. I take it you rather like Paris! Am enjoying the tour.

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  3. Interestingly she is buried in Monaco, Sally.

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  4. Hi Sally, I went for a swim at Josephine Baker Pool when we were in Paris in May - was very crowded when I was there but is in a nice spot. I had the same experience taking photos at Paris piscines - they are very strict - even when there are no people in the pool.

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  5. So you tried a Parisian swimming pool - knowing you, you had to! Good on you for doing this, and for mentioning the wonderful Josephine Baker. Everyone loves her in France - she's an icon!

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  6. Hi Sally, I am interested in one of your photos. I work for a museum and we are planning an exhibition. Can you contact me on my mail? helenecarbonnel@pavillon-arsenal.com

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  7. Hello!

    I work for a museum in France and we would like to exhibit one of your photo for the next exhibition. Contact me at this adress: helenecarbonnel@pavillon-arsenal.com

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