Parisians tuck into coffee and croissants again as cafes re-open

A customer enjoys a coffee on a terrace of the cafe and restaurant Les Deux Magots in Paris as cafes, bars and restaurants reopen after closing down for months amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in France, May 19, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

PARIS (Reuters) -For Parisian Elie Ayache, the world felt a little more normal on Wednesday after the disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic: he was back at his favourite cafe, drinking his morning coffee and eating a croissant.

French cafes and restaurants resumed serving customers, following a six-month shutdown mandated by the government to try to contain the spread of the virus.