Paris eatery reopens after terrorist attack

PARIS – With the blood and bullets now swept away, the Carillon cafe opened its doors Wednesday for the first time since it was among the Paris sites targeted by Islamic extremists in November.

The French capital is trying to revive tourism and commerce after the attacks that cost 130 lives and cast a shadow of fear over the city.

“Welcome to the Carillon,” bartenders said while opening the doors, offering a glass of champagne to the first customers, some of whom were altering between smiling and crying.

“It’s important not to wait to return to these places where people have suffered,” said Parisian Victoire Rambert, who lives nearby.

“We are lucky enough to be alive,” added her friend Fatim Layachi. “We must continue to live and to chat in cafes, drink a glass, even if today it’s more meaningful than usual, obviously.”

Bouquets of fresh flowers, notes and photos of those killed on Nov. 13 were still lying near the Carillon’s facade.

Two other cafes targeted in the attacks have already reopened.

Paris tourism took a hit in the weeks following the violence. State statistics agency Insee said hotel occupancy in the French capital dropped by 25percent in the two weeks that followed the attacks, compared to November 2014. Air France estimates the attacks caused $130million in lost revenue.

Parisian hotels – that usually have no vacancy during Christmas and the New Year celebrations – saw their activity drop by 30 to 40percent at the end of the year, said the president of hotel union UMIH in the Paris region, Evelyne Maes.

Many tourists were going for a walk on the Champs Elysee avenue on Wednesday where extra security in the form of military patrols was noticeable.

Mexican Rosa Martinez, who is on a two-week trip to France with her husband, said the couple had planned their vacation long before the November attacks and were hesitant about whether they should cancel.

“But then we thought this is our dream vacation and there’s no way these terrorists can deprive us of it,” said the 45-year-old. “Actually we were right. The city is beautiful and we have met French people who say they are glad we are here, and now we see it as a way to show our support to the French people.”

France has been in a state of emergency since the November attacks. Over 13,000 troops, including 6,000 in the Paris region, have been deployed on French territory in addition to police forces.