Large ice blue fences protect the Nice Christmas market from view. Around fifty chalets and rides, sheltered, in the Albert I garden. A handful still on the other side of the tram rails, stuck to the Promenade du Paillon. And, watching over this carelessness, the Ferris wheel… But not only that. Posted at the entrances, the national police watch over this little world that needs to be preserved. Even more acute since the attack in Germany. Instructions have been given by the municipality to increase vigilance.
“More cops than Santas”
“I feel like I’m entering a bunker and right now I see more cops than Santas,” jokes Adam, who came with his girlfriend. They had planned this trip to the market for a long time. “We haven’t talked about canceling, but if we really don’t feel safe inside, we will leave,” adds the young man. To return, you have to pass through one of the ten porticos. “It's starting well, laughs Adam, It’s still very reassuring, knives and weapons can’t come in.”
A feeling shared by Antoine who watches over his two little boys. “It’s the third time we’ve come,” he slips, asking his eldest not to climb on a table. “This morning I told myself that I would no longer go to the Cannes Christmas market, however. At the time, I hadn't thought about it but now, with the attack, I tell myself that it is much less secure as this one. There are no barriers, the chalets are placed there like that, in the street. continues the father of the family.
“Apart from a fight, maybe.”
In a candy stand, a saleswoman agrees: “Frankly it would be almost impossible for anything to happen here, apart from a fight perhaps, but as there are police everywhere, it wouldn't last long.”
“Honestly, we feel safe here, even if we think of all the attacks that there have been in Christmas markets, even in France, even if we think of July 14,” confide Aline and Pauline, two high school students from Nice.
Further on, Caroline and her father, who are enjoying a waffle, do not believe in the “ram-car” danger. “Here, I don’t think it’s possible, it’s well protected. But everywhere else in Nice, you’re never safe. In Nice or in another city,” affirms the young girl.
