Go? Don't even think about it! Even if the calendar is formal with this Saturday, April 4, sounding the time of the holidays for the students of zone C (academies of Paris, Créteil, Versailles, Montpellier and Toulouse), these spring vacations, in full epidemic of Covid-19 , will have to live… at home! The Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner recalled it, announcing a reinforcement of the controls at the departure of the big cities, in the stations and on the roads: "One does not leave on vacation during the period of confinement".
Those who would be tempted to ignore this recommendation will be at their expense. "We have deployed large police forces to make the reception committee of those who would come here from Occitania or the Paris region," warns Emmanuel Barbe, police prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône. If we challenge them, we will send them back where they came from. ” Without forgetting, after checking the plates and the number of people in the cars, a fine of 135 euros per adult "which can be accumulated if the same driver is stopped several times in a row on the same journey".
In addition to pecuniary sanctions, there may be retribution from the "locals", who are already exasperated by the arrival throughout France of more than a million Ile-de-France residents in the first hours of confinement. "Hundreds of kilometers to come to the mountains in your second home, without worrying for a second about knowing if you bring the virus with you, it is selfish, and it is not admissible, nor respectful of those who live here ”, accuses Jean-Marc Peillex, mayor (various right) of Saint-Gervais-les-Bains (Haute-Savoie). During the two previous weekends, this elected official saw the windows of many chalets usually unoccupied during this period. "And guess what? he adds, these are the same that we then find in the mountains on walks or on touring skis while the people here, play the game of containment. "
"I'm putting an end to my American dream this time"
With only a living room, a kitchen and, for the lucky ones, a piece of garden, these spring holidays have a taste, if not exoticism, of never seen for the approximately 30% of French people who, each year, complete usually during this period their suitcases to spend a few days away from home. David, a civil servant in Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) had to give up his trip to London planned for the second week of April. “It was a family trip for my 40th birthday, he regrets, and, above all, the only stay planned for us this year. Resigned, David still had to fight for a few days to get his Airbnb rental reimbursed. "I'm still waiting for the one, 566 euros anyway, for Eurostar tickets ..."
Passed by a travel agency for her reservation, Linda, 51, is doing a little better. "I'm drawing a line under my American dream for this time," says this single management assistant from Villiers-sur-Marne (Val-de-Marne), who was delighted to set off to explore Colorado in early May. My advisor invited me not to pay the balance of the stay as planned, and will suggest other dates when I am on vacation again. "
It remains to be seen how best to live this very special period. After three weeks of confinement in “school at home” mode or teleworking for some, it is not easy to take a break while staying within the same four walls. The right recipe does not exist, but a good dose of imagination and inventiveness is undoubtedly one of the essential ingredients to pass the course.
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And these days ahead are perhaps the perfect opportunity to start considering the destination of future vacations. Real ones this time, which we may take advantage of this summer and, more certainly, in the fall for the All Saints holidays and this winter for the end of year celebrations.