KUALA LUMPUR:French tourists weary of their strict national lockdown are flocking over the border to Madrid, where bars and restaurants are open and people can stay outdoors until 10 p.m., even as COVID-19 batters Europe in a virulent third wave.
"Here, there's life - everything's happening!" said 22-year-old student Clara Soudet as she left a live music event near Madrid's bustling Gran Via. Soudet arrived just before New Year's Eve to visit her boyfriend and taste the different vibe.
"It's all open. Even with a curfew, you can still do lots of things, so we make the most of it ... I felt such relief when I sat at my first terrace."
With France's cultural venues shut, restaurants unable to serve meals on-site and a strictly-enforced 6 p.m. curfew, leisure-seekers have eyed their southern neighbour's capital.
Though it made mask-wearing mandatory and slashed occupancy of public spaces by half, Madrid's conservative regional government has set one of Spain's loosest curfews, defying national recommendations to shut hospitality venues and non-essential shops.
"Seeing the restaurants open was a little shock, because in Paris it's depressing ... all the blinds are lowered," said Sorbonne student Adrien Durand, as he savoured his first sit-down terrace meal.
The city's counter-current policies stand out in Spain which, like France, is being pummelled by a third infection wave. Spain reached 2.95 million cases and 61,300 deaths on Friday, while France registered 3.29 million cases and 78,600 deaths.
"Without tourism ... we have no-one," said Lucio Burgos-Cespedes, who manages a restaurant on Madrid's Santa Ana Square.
Head waiter Edu Luna, who works at a tapas bar across the plaza, agreed, noting that the French now take six out of ten tables. He was comfortable with the foreigners' patronage due to good workplace safety measures such as disinfection, mask-wearing and reduced occupancy. "I think it's great, business-wise. Without tourists, we don't eat."
'AS THOUGH IT WERE 2019'
French tourists overtook the British and Germans by the dozens of thousands in December, a report from Spain's National Statistics Institute said last week, representing one in four foreign visitors during the month.
Of the roughly 650,000 tourists who visited Spain in December, more than 164,000 were French, entering chiefly by airplane, although some drove in.
"I've re-learned how to live, as though it were 2019," said 23-year-old law student Clementine Julien, who had not left France in a year and now sat contentedly at a Madrid terrace awaiting her drink.
"I was tired of being able to do nothing," said 22-year-old Theo Perucci as he sipped a beer and played cards with his sister. "(We wanted) to do a trip and also live normally ... so we came on a whim. Life here is good."
The influx of entertainment-seeking young tourists may, however, prove problematic. Police have broken up two parties hosted by French nationals which gathered dozens of mask-less revellers in rented apartments, despite the ban on households mingling indoors.
Police are investigating whether the fact both parties' promoters were French was a coincidence, prompting alarm in some media about a possible party tourism network run by French nationals.
Nevertheless, beyond its social life, Madrid appealed to business student Clemence Berna for its locals' rigour. "I felt safe because ... mask-wearing is much more respected here than in France or Britain," Berna said as she left a rooftop bar.
"It had been almost a year, and I'll remember it for a long time: in the sun, on a terrace in Spain with a beer. I felt so much better."
Reuters
Mon Feb 08 2021
!['It's all open!': French flock to Madrid cafes for pandemic reprieve 'It's all open!': French flock to Madrid cafes for pandemic reprieve](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-02/51612775806_French.jpg)
French women enjoy a meal on a terrace for their holiday week during the COVID-19 pandemic in Madrid, Spain, February 5, 2021. REUTERS pic
![Bakar rumah penduduk, berang ditegur bercinta dengan isteri orang Bakar rumah penduduk, berang ditegur bercinta dengan isteri orang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723704773_TBkebakaran.jpg)
Bakar rumah penduduk, berang ditegur bercinta dengan isteri orang
Kejadian bermula apabila penduduk melaporkan hubungan terlarang lelaki itu kepada suami wanita tersebut.
![Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723708198_TBFAhmi.jpg)
Platform media sosial perlu letak tanda 'notis AI' dalam setiap kandungan AI dimuat naik - Fahmi
Platform media sosial dikehendaki meletakkan notis 'Kecerdasan Buatan (AI)' dalam setiap kandungan AI yang dimuat naik.
![Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723702833_TBKhairulAming.jpg)
Wajah, suara disalah guna 'scammer', Khairul Aming beri peringatan
Khairul Aming meluahkan kebimbangan apabila pihak tidak bertanggungjawab menggunakan wajah dan suaranya untuk menjual barangan kepada golongan berusia.
MBSB Bank bekerjasama dengan INSKEN, MAIJ lancar program untuk komuniti asnaf
Program tersebut bertujuan untuk mentransformasikan kewangan sosial Islam dengan memperkasakan individu dalam komuniti asnaf melalui latihan intensif, sokongan kewangan dan bimbingan berterusan.
![Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723696968_SophiaAlbarakbah.jpg)
Buli siber: Sophia Albarakbah kumpul bukti
Aktres Sophia Albarakbah kini giat mengumpul bukti untuk mengheret pihak tidak bertanggungjawab termasuk pembuli siber ke muka pengadilan.
![Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723706198_TBsurirumahmaut.jpg)
Suri rumah dilaporkan hilang, ditemui mati dibunuh dalam bilik
Seorang wanita yang sebelum ini dilaporkan hilang ditemui meninggal dunia disyaki dibunuh dalam bilik tidur rumahnya di Indera Mahkota di sini pada petang Rabu.
![Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723294016_FaisalHalim.jpg)
Faisal Halim bukti 'pendekar' sejati - Irfan Bakti
Faisal Halim layak dilabel pejuang sejati apabila mampu bangkit walaupun berdepan trauma selepas menjadi mangsa simbahan asid pada Mei lalu.
![Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723705839_TBHilang.jpg)
Polis mohon bantuan kesan Raisya Rasyiqah
Polis memohon bantuan orang ramai mengesan seorang remaja perempuan berusia 15 tahun yang dilaporkan hilang di Beranang, Selangor.
![Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000 Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705134_TBAhLong.jpg)
Simbah cat merah, orang suruhan ah long didenda RM3,000
Seorang orang suruhan ah long mengaku bersalah atas pertuduhan menyimbah cat merah di rumah keluarga peminjam, Januari lalu.
![Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723705177_TBMyREF.jpg)
Latihan berstruktur sektor ekonomi digital berjaya stabilkan pendapatan, perniagaan asnaf
Lebih daripada 30 asnaf bersama ahli keluarga mereka telah diraikan di Majlis Graduasi MyREF Hijrahpreneur Skills Program (MyREF HSP) di Auditorium High Impact Research, Universiti Malaya.
![Sebenarnya.my antara usaha kerajaan tangani maklumat dan berita palsu - Annuar Musa Sebenarnya.my antara usaha kerajaan tangani maklumat dan berita palsu - Annuar Musa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-05/81653805555_ForumMediaNasional.jpg)
Sebenarnya.my antara usaha kerajaan tangani maklumat dan berita palsu - Annuar Musa
Sebenarnya.my ditubuhkan oleh kerajaan Malaysia pada 2017 sebagai laman web semakan fakta yang dikendalikan SKMM.
![Kebebasan bersuara tidak harus disekat, namun perlu disertai sikap tanggungjawab - Wan Junaidi Kebebasan bersuara tidak harus disekat, namun perlu disertai sikap tanggungjawab - Wan Junaidi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-04/61650467830_MenteridiJabatanP.jpg)
Kebebasan bersuara tidak harus disekat, namun perlu disertai sikap tanggungjawab - Wan Junaidi
Wan Junaidi berkata, kebebasan bersuara tidak seharusnya disekat di Malaysia namun pada sama ia perlu disertai dengan sikap bertanggungjawab.
![Arahan tambahan SOP kepada semua pengendali vaksin di PPV AstraZeneca - Dr Adham Arahan tambahan SOP kepada semua pengendali vaksin di PPV AstraZeneca - Dr Adham](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/51620108921_TBCOVIDVACCINE.jpg)
Arahan tambahan SOP kepada semua pengendali vaksin di PPV AstraZeneca - Dr Adham
Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM) menetapkan arahan tambahan dalam Prosedur Operasi Standard (SOP) kepada semua pengendali vaksin di Pusat Pemberian Vaksin (PPV) AstraZeneca.
![COVID-19: Kasino di Genting diarah tutup serta-merta COVID-19: Kasino di Genting diarah tutup serta-merta](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2020-12/41608021685_ResortsWorldGentin.jpg)
COVID-19: Kasino di Genting diarah tutup serta-merta
Ismail Sabri berkata, beliau telah mengeluarkan arahan tutup serta-merta ke atas kasino tersebut pada Jumaat lepas (21 Mei)
![Kenapa rampas telefon bimbit saya? - Syed Saddiq persoal tindakan polis, SKMM Kenapa rampas telefon bimbit saya? - Syed Saddiq persoal tindakan polis, SKMM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/41621667926_SyedSaddiq.jpg)
"Kenapa rampas telefon bimbit saya?" - Syed Saddiq persoal tindakan polis, SKMM
Syed Saddiq persoal tindakan pihak polis merampas telefon bimbitnya ketika hadir memberi keterangan di Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Dang Wangi pada Sabtu.
![Kes Shafee Abdullah: Pendakwa raya mahu buktikan tertuduh terima RM9.5 juta sebagai yuran guaman Kes Shafee Abdullah: Pendakwa raya mahu buktikan tertuduh terima RM9.5 juta sebagai yuran guaman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/41621584579_SHAFEE.jpg)
Kes Shafee Abdullah: Pendakwa raya mahu buktikan tertuduh terima RM9.5 juta sebagai yuran guaman
Muhammad Shafee berdepan dua pertuduhan pengubahan wang haram RM9.5 juta yang didakwa diterimanya dari bekas perdana menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
![Media perlu terus ketengahkan kekejaman Israel kepada dunia Media perlu terus ketengahkan kekejaman Israel kepada dunia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/71621350042_BPTurgutAlpBoyraz.jpg)
Media perlu terus ketengahkan kekejaman Israel kepada dunia
Editor Timur Tengah Agensi Anadolu Turgut Alp Boyraz berkata, naratif dalam liputan krisis mesti berubah untuk memberikan gambaran serta isu sebenar apa yang berlaku di lapangan.
![Selangor beli vaksin: Tidak timbul isu tidak dapat kebenaran kerajaan - Dr Siti Mariah Selangor beli vaksin: Tidak timbul isu tidak dapat kebenaran kerajaan - Dr Siti Mariah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/81621404028_DrSitiMariahexco.jpg)
Selangor beli vaksin: Tidak timbul isu tidak dapat kebenaran kerajaan - Dr Siti Mariah
Tidak timbul isu Kerajaan Negeri Selangor tidak mendapatkan kebenaran Kerajaan Pusat berhubung cadangan pembelian vaksin COVID-19, ujar Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud.
![Industri pelancongan hampir 100 peratus lumpuh, MITA rayu kerajaan penuhi 10 tuntutan Industri pelancongan hampir 100 peratus lumpuh, MITA rayu kerajaan penuhi 10 tuntutan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/41621322669_UzaidiUdanis.jpg)
Industri pelancongan hampir 100 peratus lumpuh, MITA rayu kerajaan penuhi 10 tuntutan
Industri pelancongan kini hampir 100 peratus lumpuh susulan pelaksanaan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) 3.0.
![Kerajaan perlu beri lebih ruang buat pendidik tingkatkan kreativiti - Aktivis pendidikan Kerajaan perlu beri lebih ruang buat pendidik tingkatkan kreativiti - Aktivis pendidikan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-05/81621156377_SkypeHariGuruAkt.jpg)
Kerajaan perlu beri lebih ruang buat pendidik tingkatkan kreativiti - Aktivis pendidikan
Kerajaan perlu memberi lebih ruang kepada pendidik untuk muncul lebih kreatif dalam proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran terutamanya dalam talian.