Deconfined air
Today, in France, is the day every alcoholic has been waiting for for months: an excuse to not drink alone. In other words, this Wednesday marks the partial reopening of bars and restaurants, as well as a partial lockdown lift. Meaning:
Bar and restaurant terraces are open, not restaurant halls just yet (that should happen in June);
The previous 7pm lockdown is now replaced by a lofty 9pm lockdown…
You will notice how gradual things are over here, as opposed to the CDC abruptly announcing that you can lose the mask anywhere in the US (except the NY subway, as if anyone would assume that NY subway is safe) if you have been vaccinated. While everyone would love to behave as if the Covid pandemic is not still decimating the Indian population as we speak, reasonable people shouldn’t have to be explained why that is a remarkably stupid idea…
In any event, we figured we might as well take the opportunity to bring our 2-month and 10-day old daughter (again, every day counts) to a restaurant (terrace). She might as well get used to it: after all, she’s a Parisian, and restaurants are what we are best known for, along with playing the accordion in US movies, although that is gross exaggeration. I haven’t played the accordion in months.
We first tried to book a table at the restaurant where we actually got married: it’s got a huge terrace (which we didn’t use for the wedding: our shindig took place indoors and on the 2d floor for a better view over the neighbouring La Villette basin because we’re no animals). The thing is, that terrace is also unprotected and today happened to be rather stormy… So we went for our other favorite spot nearby: an Italian restaurant right by the basin with yet another huge terrace — this time covered!
And that cover came in handy quick: it started raining before we even got there, so we sat down slightly soaked as the little lady was looking at us funny in her waterproof stroller. My brother, who was meeting us there, had actually arrived on time and had therefore avoided the rain. I blame it on the baby.
By the time we got to dessert, I noticed two things:
it’s nice to actually be surrounded by people you don’t know (sometimes). For one, the background noise puts the baby to sleep. More fundamentally (if you don’t mind the serious bit), we are but social creatures and it does feel good to see other said creatures…
it’s incredible how fast you get used to things again: this was our first time at a restaurant in over 7 months (that’s how long the ban lasted over here) and our first time in a crowded place of any kind in at least as long. But, by the time I was finished with my ice cream (naturally), it felt as if we’d last come by yesterday.
Except for the baby: yesterday, she was sat safely in her crib…