In the night from Friday to Saturday, despite the Covid, Paris celebrated.
Outside, above all.
No doubt thanks to a pleasant temperature of the penultimate summer weekend.
Bypassing or forgetting, in some cases, the current health rules.
Garnished, the Place des Invalides (7th) is, that evening, globally populated by 16-24 year olds.
Very few masks on the horizon.
In small or large groups, seated in a circle around a few bottles, they drink in the name of this very special back to school year.
It is 11 pm: some are standing and dancing, to the rhythm of the bass coming out of portable speakers.
Many people and few masks at Les Invalides
Elie, 17, bought a big one.
“There is a strong demand for ambiance in the area.
Look, it's a success! ”
he says, bravado.
Of the 30 people gathered near him, he knows three.
"I really come here to create entertainment," resumes the young man who is not masked, like most of those who are at his side.
The Covid?
He's not afraid of it, he says: “Besides, I got it.
And all my family too, ”he explains, putting on his facial protection.
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A little further down, going down the steps of the Alexandre III bridge, the mask is required.
Along the Seine, onlookers, even tipsy, indeed seem to be much more in tune with the announcements, a few hours earlier, of the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, calling on the French to collective responsibility.
Aubervilliers, night of September 11 to 12.
During one evening, posters remind us of the rules to be observed.
LP / Valentin Cebron
In front of a crowded terrace, about twenty people line up to access the top of a barge.
While midnight has still not struck, a bouncer warns the queue: “For those who have not booked, there is a forty-five minute wait and, for the moment, we are full. "
Half then decide to leave, including Oumnyia, a 22-year-old student.
"If I came here, it's to dance", cowardly, disappointed, observing the roof of the boat where we see figures moving.
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Same problem with the Cité de la mode (13th arrondissement).
Due to health constraints, the dancing bars in the area no longer let anyone in after midnight.
“Upstairs, there are a maximum of 450 people.
Normally, the capacity is 2500! ”
assures one of the guards, while a loud music resounds and one hears stamping of the foot.
"Security is always there to call us to order"
A few steps away, on the quays, the terrace of a bar houses a small tent where a DJ plays sounds from the 1980s. A small dance floor has been improvised.
"This is the first time since the deconfinement that I go out dancing," says Pauline, a 31-year-old screenwriter, between two selfies with her friends.
More really familiar with this kind of outing, she is not completely at ease and does not prefer to dance in the middle of the track, where the relaxation of barrier gestures is felt after several drinks of alcohol.
Aubervilliers, night of September 11 to 12.
After several drinks of alcohol, compliance with barrier gestures is often more uncertain.
LP / Valentin Cebron
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Others, on the other hand, are used to dancing in Parisian techno clubs, closed since confinement.
From the deconfinement, these music lovers participated in events bringing together many more people.
To get there, you have to go a little further, on the outskirts of Paris in particular.
As at the Docks de Paris, in Aubervilliers, for example.
“Since they took over, I have participated in a lot of Open air like this one,” says Cannelle, a 28-year-old stylist.
“Here people respect the sanitary rules.
And when we forget to put the mask on our nose, security is always there to call us to order, ”explains the young woman, who admits to omitting it sometimes.
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That night, at least 2,500 people, a large majority of whom properly wear the mask, vibrate in front of the stage, where Yoyaku is mixing headlining.
"We take advantage of it even if we have to wear a mask"
“Listening to sharp music at home is good.
But that's another thing with a powerful sound system, light, and the crowd of course.
In these conditions, the music transports me ”, specifies Quentin, 29 years old, under the red and blue neon lights which illuminate the dance floor.
Determined, Yannick, 35, IT business manager, came from Oise to participate in this evening.
“Authorized places where you can dance are becoming increasingly rare.
So we take advantage of it, even if we have to wear a mask. "
He won't take any risks anyway: “I live in a big house with my 70-year-old parents.
Coming home from the evening, I will isolate myself for seven days. "
Or the new period of isolation imposed on people positive for Covid-19 and contact cases.