Brussels (AFP)
One came to buy an eyeliner, the other to have a beard trim and a third to look for a philosophy book: from Brussels to Athens via Istanbul, thousands of ex-confined people have found their shops or their favorite hair salons.
The second phase of deconfinement, synonymous with the reopening of shops, entered into force on Monday in several European countries including Greece, Turkey and Belgium, where queues were visible before the opening in front of clothing stores.
From 9 a.m. local time (7 a.m. GMT), queues formed in front of several clothing and sporting goods stores on Rue Neuve, a major shopping street in the city center of the Belgian capital.
Barriers have been installed in the middle of this pedestrian street to separate the traffic directions of customers.
In front of the "Tropismes" bookstore in the royal galleries, a French professor awaits the opening scheduled at 11:00 am to buy a book by the philosopher Henri Bergson. "During the confinement, I came across a conference by Bergson where he described Germany at the start of the war, as we speak of China today," explains Julien Fang, 38.
- "Life has resumed" -
In Greece, it was time to reopen all retail stores except shopping centers, an exception that does not concern Belgium.
In the Ermou shopping street, in the center of Athens, the shops raised their curtains and "life has resumed," rejoiced professionals in the sector, quoted on public television Ert.
"I need jeans. I have been cycling a lot for two months and I only have worn jeans," said Brigitte Szekely, a 61-year-old Brussels resident waiting outside a clothing store in Montreal. Ixelles district.
In Stockel, another district of Brussels, bordering Flanders, a mother rushed to the opening to buy shoes for her 2.5 year old son. "I no longer have his size, during confinement he put on his big brothers' shoes," said Deborah Aragon, accompanied by her son in a stroller.
In Istanbul, the appointment book of the barber Sadettin Celikcioglu, who reopened on Monday in the Nisantasi district, is filled until evening.
"During this crisis, some asked their wives to trim their beards, others bought clippers. But no one can practice our profession. It is one of the most difficult," says Sadettin with a smile. .
"We have meetings until tonight. Tomorrow is the same thing. We are four barbers in the living room and we are going to work in shifts," he added.
In a hairdressing salon in the same district, Inci admits having rushed Monday morning to have her "redone a beauty". "I am a regular customer and I trust the hygiene measures that have been taken," she continues.
In Brussels, same pleasure for Nathalie who is waiting, mask on the mouth, to buy an eyeliner after having "stopped makeup during the two months of confinement", while in the Stockel district, Ornella, elegant red and gray mask on the face, "came to buy body cream".
In front of all shops in Belgium, customers are supposed to respect a distance of 1.50 meters. In the store, "one customer per 10 m2 for 30 minutes maximum" is required, according to the regulations. Markings have been made on the ground and the police are very present to ensure compliance with the rules.
Finally, in the city center of Brussels, the speed was limited to 20 km / h for a test period of three months. The aim is to allow pedestrians to cross the road in order to facilitate distance measures.
bur-clp-kf-fmi / mad / avz
© 2020 AFP