"And where is it marked, that it is forbidden?"
»Asks Julie, a young nurse, casting a worried glance at her cup of Mojito, then at the two gendarmerie coaches stationed on the banks of the Contrescarpe (Ve).
This Saturday, between the trees of this small cobbled square in Paris, and unlike last weekend, no drinkers clustered together, pints in hand and all fallen masks.
The decree prohibiting the consumption of alcohol, taken Monday by the police headquarters to sanction the casualness of Parisians vis-à-vis barrier gestures and health rules, seemed rather respected.
Just like rue de Buci (6th district), second “spot” a little too debauched last weekend and therefore targeted by the ban.
Result, this Saturday, the alcohol still flowed, but the crowd circulated.
Less numerous, more spaced, wiser.
Was it the cool breeze that kept the jacket on and kept the temperature at 8 or 10 degrees at midday?
Was it the threat of seeing Paris once again sealed off for the third time?
Probably both.
Many ignore the prohibition
In the aftermath of the controversy arising from the “proposal” for confinement on the part of the City, Parisians obviously do not want to tempt the devil.
Nor to "find oneself as in Nice or Dunkirk", a young man is wearily frightened, who is sunbathing with a pint in his hand.
“I didn't know it was forbidden,” he says.
But it's weird that it is here and not in the street next door!
"
Even astonishment for this nurse and his Spanish friend, who sip their beer and just want to "enjoy the moment".
"We are not rebels," the nurse smiles.
Rather misinformed rebels!
"A little further," we just wait for our fries and we go, "warns a young couple in front of one of the bars of the Contrescarpe, where pints are served continuously.
Rue de Buci (VIe), traders can sell alcohol but “customers must move around”. LP / Olivier Corsan
5 meters away, two trucks of the national gendarmerie have just parked at the edge of the square.
"Mission of presence", a gendarme smiles, looking at the small groups of two or three people, scattered on the paving stones.
Relatively respected spacing, celebrations in small groups, "it's still a pleasure to see people outside", slips the soldier with kindness.
"We are there to make sure that things go well, quietly, not to verbalize," he adds.
3,600 police and gendarmes will be deployed throughout the weekend, to ensure proper compliance with health rules, announced the police headquarters.
Who does not refrain from extending his order to new streets according to the findings made this weekend.
This Saturday, Prime Minister Jean Castex also called for, in the 20 departments where the Covid-19 epidemic threatens to flare up, a strengthening of controls.
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In the public security car that circles the square, the officers have a more inquisitive eye.
"Okay, let's go a little further," decides a young girl, going down towards rue Mouffetard.
"We cannot do more, we are not from the police"
Rue de Buci, the atmosphere is also wise but more gloomy.
In front of a brewery, the vat of punch-tequila brews a drink the color of orange juice, beers sell as much as take-out coffees.
"We have the right to sell but customers must move around", anticipates a waitress, reframe the poster indicating that "alcohol consumption is prohibited on rue de Buci between 11 am and 6 pm".
At Café Jade, the boss is still enraged by the images which have been looped after last weekend, and which have "made bad publicity".
“We are in the nails, we warned, we said that we should not stay clumped.
Now they say we have to go and drink elsewhere.
We can't do more, we're not the police.
"
Quais de Seine, this Saturday.
Walkers enjoy the sun on the banks of the Seine while relatively respecting social distancing.LP / Olivier Corsan
Those who violate the ban and risk a fine of 135 euros rarely assume it and say they are "on the way" or "not informed".
“No one wants to be reconfigured, this story has been going on for a year,” adds Jean, a client who also works in the restaurant business.
People think we're at the end of the tunnel, but we're right in the middle.
"
On the Pont des Arts, on the quays of the Seine, the Île Saint-Louis often taken by storm, this Saturday, the landscape is generally an encouraging dotted line.
A broken line of tiny human clusters, Parisians take in the air and the sun in pairs, in fours, but without letting go.
" To let go ?
With what awaits us?
Frankly, we hesitate, we would very much like to take advantage since, afterwards, we will be locked up… ”suggests a student who dreams of“ terraces and parties beyond 6 pm ”.
Not immediately.
