On the terrace of Les Tanneurs de la Butte “bistro-restaurant”, two young friends in their thirties have a toast with little white wine.
"Come on, to our last drink!"
»Wishes Chloe, who rolls up her sleeves in fashion.
“Before the end of the world!
»Continues his neighbor, DJ deprived of turntables since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the lively district of Butte-aux-Cailles in Paris (13th century), they are hundreds, this Friday evening, to savor their last night sips, indoors or outside, before the curfew which starts at midnight .
From this Saturday evening, and for at least a month in Ile-de-France as in eight hexagonal metropolises, it will no longer be possible to say "tchin!"
», Even masked, after 9 pm in coffee shops.
Or even to circulate, except exceptions, until 6 o'clock in the morning.
So for this final “almost normal” evening, many young and old alike take advantage of it along the cobblestones of Butte-aux-Cailles.
Most establishments are fully booked.
We are remaking the world standing, at tables which, sometimes, have not yet integrated the famous "rule of six".
For Chloe, these last hours of “freedom” are very precious.
"But they have a flavor of reconfinement", continues César. / LP / Aurélie Ladet
At one of them, there are ten guests with unmuzzled mouths.
For Chloe, these last hours of “freedom” are very precious.
“But they still have a flavor of
We start all over again
,” she sums up.
“A flavor of reconfinement,” continues César.
When she projects herself over the next few days, Chloe looks grim.
“It's still a mental burden to be home before 9 pm.
"Margaux, 24, who" works in luxury marketing ", is on the same wavelength.
“Even though I know it's for everyone's good, I feel like I'm being punished.
Marie-Laure, graphic designer and Gonzague, entrepreneur, think of their three boys aged 17, 20 and 23 when they swallow their half.
"For their generation, it's really hard," said this couple in their forties who had fun before "a very quiet weekend".
Opposite, at the Taverne de la Butte, we avoid thinking about tomorrow.
"It's not our last drink, but our last drinks, we still have until midnight!"
»Enthuses a strange reveler with a sloping throat.
“Afterwards, we will lose in fun capital”, regrets Cassandre, 25 years old.
“Having only work as a social life is a bit sad as a vision.
But hey, it's not the end of the world.
We're not going to complain.
There, already, we are very lucky to be able to afford blows, ”relativizes Svend, a young executive.
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Lucas, 28, an unemployed bartender, is worried about the future of his profession.
"It pains me for the bosses who have already lowered the curtain or who are in difficulty", underlines this sympathetic 28-year-old mustache who runs on alcohol-free mojito.
Yann, 36, civil servant, has not changed his habits.
“Every Friday evening, we drink shots.
Welcome to French culture!
But tomorrow is a hangover!
He predicts.
On the terrace at Mamane's, “couscous bar-restaurant”, Ldjida, 34, executive assistant, drowns her grief a little alongside her colleagues.
“Beer tastes like despair, it's depressing to know that we won't be able to go out,” she says.
His Saturday night at home promises to be less watered.
“It will be Netflix, quiet with my cats and my husband,” she says.
So before this routine, the band decided to "meet on purpose" before the curfew.
“We said to ourselves, this is the last time for a long time,” explains Yan, work manager who has a weakness for anise-flavored aperitif.
"This Friday, anything goes!"
In the establishment next door, behind the Papagallo counter, Nassim the barman does not have a second for him.
"There are a lot of people, more reservations than usual, the regulars came to support us," he thanked.
For the funds of the house, it is "a difficult period" in recent months.
“But the next four weeks are going to be even more difficult,” he warns.
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Opposite, at Gladines, a Basque restaurant, we queue outside, sometimes with a drink in hand, while waiting for a warm table to become available.
“I almost stayed at home, being a homebody.
But finally, I changed my mind as it is the last evening before the curfew, ”says Cyrine, 31, a cook by profession.
“After that, we'll have to be back at 9pm at home, like when we were kids,” recalls his girlfriend.
Cateline, 26, a headhunter, has every intention of enjoying it until midnight, and maybe even a little more even if it is no longer legal.
“This Friday, anything goes!
"