Twenty small round tables were lined up on the sidewalk, in front of several cafes. They are all busy. Groups of friends, young couples and local residents "who take advantage of the bargain" enjoy their beer or their glass of wine, quietly seated in the sun. “It's great, Paris. It's already June 2! Said a young man, taking an amused look at the board.
However, the scene is happening this Friday, May 29, at the end of the day, in a neighborhood, a bit of boo-boo, from the bottom of the Montmartre hill in the heart of the 18th century. Just over 72 hours before the entry into force of phase II of the deconfinement and the authorization to reopen the terraces of cafes and restaurants located in the “orange zone”.
In this sector of the north of the capital (as in other districts rich in “small bars” like the Butte aux Cailles in the 13th century for example), several establishments have taken the lead. They pulled out tables and chairs without waiting for Tuesday. "It is to please customers. We were already doing take-out. People were drinking standing on the sidewalk. It's still better if they can sit, right? “Summarizes the waiter of one of these cafes.
" It's amazing. The atmosphere, the people who joke… We live again ”
“We are very, very happy with it. How nice to have a drink (or two) on the terrace! "Enthuses Djemilla, a resident of the neighborhood, and Dominique who lives in Saint-Ouen. The two colleagues and friends who discovered the terrace "anticipated" by chance, jumped at the opportunity.
“When we arrived an hour ago, there were only 3 tables. Now there are 10 ”, laughs one of the two friends. " It's amazing. The atmosphere, the people joking, even the noise of conversations ... We live again, "savored the other, saying he had to take on this little sprain in the rules of deconfinement. “Frankly, people are responsible. If you're sick, you don't come on the terrace. And then that's all. "
"It's a very good surprise," continues Patricia, 59, a resident of the neighborhood who also discovered the "hatching" of the terrace when she returned home. "I missed this social life so much," she laughs hilariously, "and a little crazy," before recommending a new Mojito.
The resident kept her sanitary visor (raised) on the forehead. Patrice, another local resident whom she did not know but to whom she offered to share her table, wears her surgical mask under her chin. The servers who go back and forth from the counter to the terrace are all masked. The tables, taken out as customers arrive, may be spaced one meter apart. But the chairs are touch-to-touch.
Paris Newsletter
Every morning, the news of your department seen by Le ParisienI'm registering
Your email address is collected by Le Parisien to allow you to receive our news and commercial offers. Find out more
"Houla, it takes risks here!" "Notes a young man who discovers the tables out on the sidewalk. "No health risks. Rather administrative, ”he said immediately. "It's nice to see that. But if the keufs pass, the coffee-makers may have problems… ”
A few minutes later, a police car, four officials on board, just passed the small street. It slows down for a few seconds at the level of the "anticipated terraces" ... and resumes its course at normal speed.