SOMEWHERE ALONG THE SEINE — A day along the Seine begins as the sun rises over Paris. The streets are nearly empty, but for joggers getting in their morning miles and revelers, including two dudes dressed in togas, leaving establishments just in time for church.
This is the country’s third-longest river, but the heart of its capital—that’s why Parisians staged the Opening Ceremony there. It’s named after Sequana, a Celtic goddess. It begins 18 miles northwest of Dijon, flows northwest through Paris, then empties into the English Channel at Le Havre. It’s 485 miles long. The bond between the City of Lights and the river that runs through it has deepened since the Middle Ages. As part of the foundation of the French Monarchy. As the hub of the nation-state. As a landmark of France for the world. As inspiration for the famous paintings that hang in the museums just beyond its banks. As a source of hydroelectric power and a drinking source for half of Paris. And now, as the center of the Olympic Games.
