REPORTAGE
"A ride on a riverboat is a moment of pleasure, of discovery. We do not impose the mask but at the same time we reassure, without it being anxiety-provoking." The commercial director of a riverboat company on the Seine, in Paris, sums up all the complexity of the balance to find for the organization of its river cruises. Ships can once again take on visitors, and this for the first time since the containment imposed by the coronavirus epidemic.
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For Parisians and tourists, this is a boon. With the end of the state of health emergency, they can again practice outdoor activities. "Notre-Dame de Paris, the Hôtel de Ville… I see a lot of buildings that I had never seen in real life", enthuses for example a curious woman. On board, no one wears a mask, except the staff. However, measures have been put in place to ensure that cruises run smoothly and that everyone is safe: half the tickets are available for sale, only 60 passengers can board the boat and only the upper deck is accessible.
"Surprised to see that there are so few people"
After four months of stopping, Bruno, the captain of a riverboat, finally finds his cabin. "I never thought I would experience this situation," he explains. "I have been with the company for 31 years ... so it is bound to make a special feeling to come back, the charm of the Seine is doing its work," he smiles.
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For the passengers, another charm operates: the very low attendance. "We are astonished to see that there are so few people! During our previous visit to Paris, three years ago, there were two-hour queues ... So here we have the positive aspect of the health crisis, "says a couple of Belgians visiting the French capital. On the bridge, moreover, we mostly exchange in French. The riverboat companies hope for the return of tourists by the fall.