PARIS (AP) — Sand, palm trees, bikinis. Parisians can get their tropical fix without ever leaving the French capital.
"Paris Beach" has opened for action for the ninth year, with 1.3 tons (1.4 short tons) of recycled sand poured on the quays of the Seine River. It was launched Tuesday and welcomes visitors until Aug. 20.
People sunbath on the right bank of the Seine river with an artificial beach, palm trees, outdoor showers and hammocks on the first day of the Paris Plage event in Paris, France, Tuesday, July 20, 2010.
Parisian Isabelle Bonin says the four-kilometer (2.5-mile) stretch of artificial beach is "a different way to discover Paris."
View of the right bank of the Seine river with an artificial beach, palm trees, outdoor showers and hammocks on the first day of the Paris Plage event in Paris, France, Tuesday, July 20, 2010.
Soyeon-Kim, a South Korean who has lived in Paris for a year, had thought a beach squeezed into the city center would be "weird." But now, she says, "I see it’s beautiful."
View of the right bank of the Seine river with an artificial beach, palm trees, outdoor showers and hammocks on the first day of the Paris Plage event in Paris , france,Tuesday, July 20, 2010.
The event was started in 2002 by Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe. It is aimed at giving those who can’t leave town a touch of summer fun.
