This is what Paris looks like during corona time

I was just a bit nervous about it. I used to go to Paris five times a year, but now, now it was corona time. It had been five months since I had been abroad, so I checked six times if I had our IDs, gathered the Thalys tickets once again, and of course woke up half an hour before the alarm. But how was it going to be in Paris? I can imagine you want to know that, in case you also long for a day at Le Bon Marché, Les Deux Magots, and what Jérôme Dreyfuss.

1. The Thalys
You have to wear a face mask there, of course. Logical. What surprised me intensely is that the seat next to me was simply booked by someone from another household. No one and a half meters, just side by side. I took a child on my lap and we squeezed into a two-seater with three of us, but I didn’t find it a pleasant idea at all.

2. The Thalys II
What is really nice is that the Thalys only charges fifteen euros for a child ticket. That’s cheaper than from Haarlem to Overijssel.

3. Goodbye luxury hotels
Staying in a five-star hotel is not exactly within my budget, but having lunch there or having a glass of wine... I do like that. So I wanted to order a nice Meursault in the garden of Le Bristol. Closed. Then on to Costes. Also closed (they bought the building next door and are expanding, which is good news of course). Le Meurice has always been my favorite, but even there the gates were closed. Our taxi driver told me that George V and Plaza Athénée have also been closed for months. All because of corona. Sigh.

4. The sidewalks are a large terrace
Because it is almost impossible to maintain distance in the narrow restaurants of Paris, there has been a relaxation regarding holding terraces on the sidewalk. So that is really quite lively.

5. Another tip
On the first Sunday of the month, all museums in Paris are free to visit. I would say: mask on and go. Make sure you travel with a group of four from one household, then you won’t have to deal with people who are too close in your one-and-a-half-meter aura. And: bring your own food and drinks because the restaurant carriages are closed. Because you know what, it won’t surprise you.