UGC Ciné Cité les Halles, City Theater, Louvre Museum, Vincennes Zoo… We went this Wednesday morning to the cultural places of the capital, which reopened, for some, at 8:30 am.
8:30 am, UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles: "We have no apprehension"
Annie, 67, Parisian "for 42 years", wanted to be present as soon as the rooms reopened "to feel the energy" and "to witness hope regained". “I'm coming to see
Slalom
,” she says. It looks very beautiful. Then
Miss
, and I'll go outside for a drink! It is the great happiness: the city, which was dead, comes to life! "
Thomas, a 24-year-old theater actor, has just taken his ticket for “DNA”.
He came with his 23-year-old girlfriend, Sophie, too early to "feel the energy".
“This will be our little emotional session,” says Sophie.
Sarah, Julie and Bertille, in their thirties, have made a date, but one will go see "Slalom" and the others "Goodbye idiots".
“There are a lot of people this morning and that's what is nice, says Sarah.
Anyway, the gauges are at 35% so we have no apprehension.
"
8:30 am, Théâtre de la ville: “What a breath of air!
"
Notes, a few words and sensations, at the Cardin space of the Théâtre de la ville, the reopening is celebrated early on in music.
About thirty people have already taken their seats in the small room.
It is accessed through the garden where stages have been mounted, the terraces widened under large pergolas.
The event was planned outside, the uncertain weather decided otherwise.
“We wanted to open as soon as possible, slips Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota, the director.
We cannot resume as if nothing had happened, we must celebrate the moment.
"
VIDEO.
Deconfinement: 8:30 am, curtain raiser for cinemas, director Maïwenn "happy"
On stage, artists succeed one another who, since the beginning of this crisis, have listened to the ills of others and then delivered them privileged moments of music over the phone. There are also poetic consultations, other scientists, which are just as balm in the heart. And which continue, this weekend in particular in several Parisian gardens and parks. It's free and heartwarming. A bubble formed for an instant, reformed, that of a performance hall.
"The morning is the best time for the theater, there is a freshness, an availability", notes David Lescot, associate author.
“It's a journey, really, what a breath of air,” enthuses Guillaume, who came to taste this musical awakening before work.
Indian flute, Albanian songs, electric guitars shaping large spaces to wander, but also words, those of Pablo Neruda.
"I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees", whispers the actress Cylia Malki.
9 am, Louvre Museum: "It will be the Mona Lisa first"
At the Louvre Museum, for the reopening, it is the Mona Lisa that visitors wanted to see first.
LP / Olivier Arandel
The owner of the place, Jean-Luc Martinez, welcomes the first visitor in person at 9 a.m. in front of the Pyramid. There are no crowds, gauge of 8 m2 per visitor requires. The other entrance, by the carousel, is even almost deserted. “People are working, sir. The Ile-de-France residents, we will especially find them this weekend, ”smiles a receptionist.
Under the Pyramid, Sinä, Maewenn and Emma, three Breton friends, students in eco-management in Morbihan, look at their map of the museum.
“The last time I came to the Louvre, I was 7 years old.
So it will be the Mona Lisa first, ”smiles Sinä, delighted to have five days of vacation coincide with this reopening.
“We're going to stay all day at the Louvre.
We took food from our bags, ”they say.
Except that in principle, eating in the museum is prohibited.
"We'll see if there can be a small tolerance," explains a member of staff.
A receptionist has his photo taken by his colleagues carrying a block, hilarious: “The night has been short, but there is such excitement.
We've been waiting for this for months, ”he smiles.
9:20 am, UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles: "We cannot stay in our lounges"
Applause resounded in the room where the “Rag Boy” team had just presented their film.
The director and main actor Nicolas Maury leaves, very moved.
“I thanked my entire team, which has shown so much resistance in these uncertain times,” he says.
The emotion is lively, clear, to see the spectators at the rendezvous.
The lesson of this whole period is that we cannot stay in our living rooms.
Platforms are great, but the city without the cinemas is a lifeless city.
"
9:30 am, Vincennes Zoo: "He may not have the right to take the lion out ..."
Despite a threatening sky, around thirty visitors, a good half of them excited kids, congregate in front of the gates of the Bois de Vincennes zoo as soon as it opens. After six months of closed doors, the park can finally welcome the public again. “This is a first for us. I love animals and I was looking forward to being able to introduce my 18 month old little boy to this, ”enthuses Alissa, an American who has lived in Paris for 6 years.
Inside, while some choose to treat themselves to a coffee on restaurant terraces, the playful sea lions are always a hit. In front of the zebra enclosure, Muriel, a retired nurse, does not hide her happiness. “I really missed it. I am a regular. I came at least once a week before confinement. This reopening is a breath of fresh air. "
Undoubtedly not very fond of rain, Atlas, the lion who arrived a few months ago, does not deign to pass a piece of his muzzle.
"Maybe he has not yet the right to go out, him", risks Nicolas, 12 years old, from Charenton (Val-de-Marne) and who took advantage of the free system put in place until Monday for children under 13.
"We are very happy to meet the public again," comments Pierre-Yves Bureau, the director of the zoo.
We are not yet filling up today, i.e. 4,400 people at the same time, but we are expecting a lot of people for this weekend.
"
9:30 am, Musée d'Orsay: "We are made to live together"
Laurence des Cars, the president, saw tears on the faces of some visitors.
" What joy !
It just goes to show that we are made to live together, ”she laughs, her gaze turned towards visitors under the nave, between the fatigue of the final preparations and excitement.
Lucas and Thibault, two 3rd year medical students in Dijon, are on short vacation.
They have reserved for Orsay, the Invalides, the Louvre, Versailles, the Center Pompidou and they forget about it.
“This is our first trip to Paris.
It turned out well ”, they laugh at the beginning of this“ capital ”odyssey…
Read also Museum reopening in Paris: our walk to (re) discover the deconfined exhibitions
We notice astonished a Japanese tourist. Oh not at all, Fumie is a tour guide in Paris, native of Fukushima. Employee of a travel agency, she is preparing for the return of tourists. “Well, the Japanese groups, it won't be for a year. Individuals, perhaps ”. Kate, a Franco-American colleague, has requests for August and September: “But the Americans see us as a very contaminated country. Their first question is: are you vaccinated? "
In the impressionist rooms, around 10 am, a great calm.
We almost have Monet, Renoir and Pissarro to ourselves.
Valérie, a school teacher, came with her four children aged 3 to 6 - including twins - and her mother, like every Wednesday morning.
Well, like Wednesdays six months ago.
“They were so happy this morning.
The museum can arouse passions.
Since I took out a family subscription, my children no longer look at the world around them as before.
They are more receptive to the colors of nature.
"
This Wednesday, three of the little ones stretched out like watching TV to draw a still life by Cézanne.
Apples.
The first fruit of creation.
With a great desire to take a bite of life.
10 hours, UGC Ciné Cité Les Halles: "A historic score"
A record attendance at Les Halles.
1,069 spectators bought their ticket for the first screening at the UGC Ciné Cité, where, traditionally, the profession takes the pulse of cinema attendance.
It is “the biggest historical score” for this schedule since the opening of the room.
This Wednesday morning, many sessions are even full (while respecting the gauges of 35% of people), such as "Mandibles" (164 spectators), "Slalom" (67), "The Embrace" (47), "Boy chiffon ”(36),“ Drunk ”(50),“ Envole-moi ”(33) and“ The Last Voyage ”(36).
“Goodbye idiots” attracted 120 moviegoers, “DNA” 62… Even animated films won over the crowds: 20 people came to discover the new “Tom & Jerry” chases and 34 people flocked to the session of the cartoon "Demon Slayer".
