• The reopening of the terraces also means the reopening of the beaches.

  • To "enjoy the deckchairs" or "live a moment with the family with the most beautiful view of the city", they have no shortage of customers.

  • With 50% of the usual capacity, many of them are already full for a week for the catering part.

“I'm going to take a photo because it's been a long time,” says Brigitte on the terrace of Beau Rivage beach in Nice.

With his friend Pascal, they came from 9:30 am, at the opening, to take advantage of “the freedom to be outside for a coffee”.

"The Prom keeps its promise," launches the Niçois.

What we lacked the most is the opportunity to come ”.

The beaches are stormed for this first day of deconfinement and are even "complete, for the catering part, until next week", says one of the beach attendants.

Even if some are still in the process of making the final preparations, the objective is to try to make up for the confined several months of the season without thinking of "the possibility that foreign tourists could not come to Nice".

At Beau Rivage, they normally represent 80% of the clientele.

In addition, this beach, which usually reopens in mid-February, is dependent on "business trips which correspond to 20% of turnover".

A shortfall that will not be able to be compensated, "even with a strong activity this summer", admits Séverine Jaffeux, director of the beach.

"Each beach has its specificity"

Yann Claeysen, manager of Bella Nissa, has used all the means to revive the economy and bring local identity to life: from niçarde cuisine with fish from the local fisherman, to Bellet wines and early produce from the region up to masks made less than a kilometer from the beach. “We pay attention to detail and that's how we stand out,” says the owner. Afterwards, we are especially happy and very excited to be able to reopen and live this moment. "

With its raised "lounge" part, it is sure to make the difference by offering a "breathtaking sea view".

This is where Delphine, Nicolas and Sébastien landed for a coffee with “the parents” after running for an hour on the Promenade des Anglais.

“It was the occasion or never!

launches Delphine.

We stopped there because we know it and because it is the closest to us, but each of the beaches has its specificity and its clientele.

"

A few meters away, at Opéra plage, Cindy and Mylène are testing the deckchairs.

“We are not going to move all day, exclaims Mylène.

We come from Paris and we stay five more days.

We will enjoy it 100%!

“For them, being on the Côte d'Azur was the best way to deconfin themselves with“ the sea ”and“ the sun ”.

“It has a really relaxing side to disconnect,” says Cindy.

"With the confinement, we became aware of what a coffee on the beach was worth"

Even in the midday rush, Cyril, Gaëlle and Lili wait for their drink without flinching.

“It was either here or on Cours Saleya, but in any case, we wanted to take a little time together for this first moment on the terrace,” says Gaëlle.

And then, for me, here is the most beautiful view of Nice.

In addition, this beach really has a family spirit ”.

For five generations, Opéra plage has belonged to the Maiffrets. Nicolas, the current manager, lives this “historic day” by feeling “privileged”. He has been waiting for this moment since mid-March, when the season usually begins. “We run everywhere but it's because there is a kind of excitement about the reopening. It’s nice! We have no choice but we are even obliged to refuse customers ”. He hopes that “this excitement” will last over time to “live with this end of the crisis for a long time to come”.

One thing is certain, Cyril, Gaëlle and Lili have achieved “the happiness of living here” and they will continue to participate in local life.

During confinement, they landed when they could in this same place, on the pebbles, but "it had nothing to do".

Cyril explains: “We realized what a coffee on the beach was worth.

We feel the difference and this is ultimately one of the positive sides of confinement ”.

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  • Covid 19

  • Deconfinement

  • Coronavirus

  • French Riviera

  • Beach

  • Nice