France > Pari Roller Skate Tour

As I drive onto the Van der Valk motel grounds, the black bus from Beuk is already waiting. I quickly stow my suitcase and bag with skates in the bus. I meet my fellow travelers. It’s just before seven in the morning when Louis, the bus driver, merges onto the highway heading for Paris. Along the way, we pick up more travelers at Schiphol and the Hazeldonck parking lot. The weather is beautiful, and I hope it will stay this nice in Paris today—especially tonight. I am going to participate in the Pari Roller, a Friday evening skate tour through central Paris. For a skate tour, it’s essential that the road surface is dry; otherwise, the wheels won’t have any grip. Unfortunately, the weekend forecast is less favorable. Rain is predicted for both Saturday and Sunday. Earlier in the week, the forecast for Friday also predicted rain, but this morning, before departure, it showed dry weather. The journey goes smoothly. As we enter Belgium, all 26 participants are on board. If all goes well, we should arrive in Paris around two o’clock, just before the busy Friday afternoon traffic around the périphérique. I close my eyes for a short while. As we approach Paris, Louis announces over the microphone that the Eiffel Tower is already visible on the right. Without encountering any traffic, Louis soon parks the bus in front of the hotel in the Montparnasse district. In my hotel room, I freshen up quickly and then look for a terrace. At a typical French terrace on a busy roundabout, I order a beer. I am surprised it costs nearly five euros. Soft drinks are over four euros as well. At six o’clock, I am ready in the hotel lobby with my skating gear. With the group, we drive to the starting point of the skate tour. I skate on and off the sidewalks. Due to the many irregularities in the pavement and pedestrians, I have to pay close attention. I find it quite difficult to navigate through the busy traffic so precisely. I regularly use my brake block. The start of the skate tour is in front of Gare Montparnasse, next to the tall Montparnasse Tower. The tour doesn’t start until ten o’clock tonight. In a nearby restaurant, the group has dinner together. I carefully descend the stairs into the basement with my skates. Soon, skates, protective gear, and helmets are stacked everywhere. After dinner, a braking clinic is scheduled. On a paved section where a market is held during the day, I can practice braking. The area slopes downward. By pressing my brake block firmly against the asphalt, I can come to a stop here as well. I also practice dragging the brake as preparation for the tour. I notice I am a bit nervous—how will the tour go, especially over Paris’s hilly streets? Around half past nine, I return to the starting square to wait. Gradually, more and more skaters arrive. Music blares from a vehicle belonging to the organizers.

France - A group photo during the Paris Roller

At exactly ten o’clock, the tour begins. Two police motorcycles lead the way, followed by a group of blockers. They close off the roads for the tour. I start skating. The route along Boulevard Raspail gently descends toward the Seine. I watch the other skaters for braking cues and try to keep some space in front of me to see the road clearly. Although the road is paved, there are regular potholes. I don’t get much room, as other skaters quickly fill any gaps. I estimate about five thousand participants are taking part in the Pari Roller. When the route runs parallel to the Seine, I suddenly hear “Allez, Allez” from the front. The blockers take off. Everyone around me crouches lower in their skates and sprints after them. I do the same. I skate through Paris at full speed. The sprint doesn’t last long. Because of the large group, volunteers cannot quickly return from back to front. So everyone is blocked for a few kilometers at a time, waiting until all blockers are at the front again. This gives me a chance to rest and have a drink. It’s still oppressively warm, with temperatures above twenty-five degrees Celsius. I cross the Seine and head toward Place de la Bastille. At this large traffic hub, the asphalt ends, and I skate over small cobblestones. It’s terrible to skate over. Fortunately, asphalt resumes a little further on. Along the north side of the Seine, the tour heads west. Sometimes I recognize buildings in the city center, but I barely notice them when crossing the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. I focus so much on the small stones that this famous avenue goes by unnoticed. The view of the illuminated Eiffel Tower, however, is unforgettable. What a beautiful sight. A pause is held in the park near the Eiffel Tower. After the break, the route quickly enters a tunnel. At speed, I skate with the crowd into the tunnel. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly for everyone.

France - Along the route of the Paris Roller

I safely climb up on the other side. It is past midnight when I return to Montparnasse. The road surface is poor here, and I notice I am getting quite tired from the journey and the skating. A little before one o’clock, I arrive back at the square near Montparnasse. A Frenchman, with whom I had tried to strike up a conversation earlier, taps me on the shoulder and compliments me on completing the tour. He was amazed that I came to Paris specifically for this event. Unfortunately, one of the travelers fell in the tunnel after being hit from behind. Several falls occurred there. As a precaution, she went to the hospital. With the whole group, we wait for her as she is brought back to the starting area by ambulance. Afterwards, I skate back to the hotel. In the lobby, everyone grabs a drink. By three o’clock, I call it a night and go to bed—a tiring but very special day.