- Title: FRANCE: PARIS LURES SUN WORSHIPPERS TO BANKS OF THE SEINE
- Date: 6th October 2004
- Summary: (EU) PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 20, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SLV BANK OF THE RIVER SEINE; SLV TOURISTS AND PARISIANS UNDER WATER FOUNTAINS; SLV TOURISTS ON DECK CHAIRS SUNBATHING ON 'BEACH'; SLV TOURISTS AND PARISIANS NEAR FOUNTAIN (5 SHOTS) 0.32 2. SLV WOMAN SUNBATHING; MEN SUNBATHING; PARISIANS SITTING ON SAND AND CHILDREN PLAYING 1.06 3. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED PARISIAN SAYING: "It's sunny, the sky is blue, we have palm trees. Only water is missing to go and swim, but everything is nearly there." 1.18 4. SLV REFRESHMENT STALLS; SLV PEOPLE HAVING BREAKFAST ON TERRACE 1.30 5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED PARISIAN SAYING: "It's very pleasant. They've made some improvements since last year. We are very glad to be here." 1.41 6. SLV TERRACE ON THE RIVER; MV TAI CHI CLASS ON SAND 2.06 7. SLV TOURISTS WALKING ALONG RIVER BANKS; MV CHILD PLAYING IN SAND; YOUNG MAN BUILDING SAND CASTLE; SCU LITTLE GIRL WATCHING 2.18 8. SLV PEOPLE TAKING PICTURES 2.35 9. YOUNG CHILD CLIMBING ROCKS (VARIOUS) 2.45 10. SLV PEOPLE ON TERRACE; SLV PARISIANS PLAYING BOULES; GIRLS IN SWIMMING COSTUMES ON THE 'BEACH' EATING MELON 3.09 11. (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNIDENTIFIED GIRL SAYING: "We are enjoying the nice weather, we are getting a tan. We arrived this morning and we have had a picnic." 3.17 12. SLV PEOPLE ON DECK CHAIRS 3.21 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 21st October 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Reuters ID: LVA94SJS2BBBS0UYYUDPRX69DOLJ
- Story Text: Paris has lured sun-worshippers to the banks of the
Seine by bringing the beach to the French capital.
After the runaway success of Paris's first artificial
beach last year, the French capital dumped three tonnes of
sand on the banks of the Seine, turning a busy thoroughfare
into a palm-lined paradise on Sunday (July 20, 2003).
Conceived by mayor Bertrand Delanoe for the thousands who
do not get a proper summer holiday, last year's Paris beach
silenced critics by drawing 2.3 million people to its deck
chairs, volleyball pitch and live music concerts.
"It's sunny, the sky is blue, we have palm trees. Only
water is missing to go and swim, but everything is nearly
there," one local man said as he played in the sand with his
family.
Parisian families and groups of tourists stripped off to
their beachwear to lounge on sunbeds and play in the sand.
This year's event used three times as much sand, brought
to Paris by barge, after some of last years visitors were
disappointed to find thin strips rather than vast golden
expanses to spread their beach towels on.
With entertainment, deck chairs and many sporting
activities laid on free, the bill came to more than 1.5
million euros ($1.7 million U.S dollars), a notch more than
last year. But this time, sponsors bore more than half the
cost.
"It's very pleasant. They've made some improvements since
last year. We are very glad to be here," a Parisian woman
explained.
The beach stretched over more than three kilometres (two
miles) of Paris's right bank, from the Louvre art gallery to
just past the Ile Saint Louis with its elegant 17th century
mansions.
Traffic will be banned in favour of walkers, cyclists and
roller-bladers.
Although swimming in the river is banned due to dangerous
currents, visitors will be able to lounge in hammocks, play
bowls, do rock climbing activities, get ice cream from mobile
stands, play beach volley, borrow books for a multilingual
library and perfect their dance move to the sounds of live
bands.
One girl was enjoying the sunshine with a friend.
"We are enjoying the nice weather, we are getting a tan.
We arrived this morning and we have had a picnic," she said.
The Paris beach will be open for four weeks until August
17, 2003.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
