The dance floor is starting to fill up at the Helsinki nightclub Hercules and as a shift manager Markus Lukkarinen welcomes sight with a wide smile.
"People are really happy. You can tell they have been waiting for this. It feels awesome!"
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The reason for the unbridled joy is that restaurants and nightclubs are finally allowed to open their doors again. Covid restrictions governing opening hours, customer capacity and the right to serve alcohol have been lifted.
Lukkarinen hopes and believes that the restrictions will not come back.
"They should only be introduced for very good reasons," he says.
At the Barfly Nightclub in the same premises, you hear a woman singing Dingo hit, Girl in a leather jacket (Girl in a leather jacket).
Behind the microphone is Arina Maslennikovawho says he has sung a song since the toddler.
"Everyone knows this song," rings in Jasmin Viljakainenwho just ended the duet with Maslennikova.
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Viljakainen is excited that the bars are now open without restrictions.
"I’m used to them closing at 10 pm It’s been a little sad," he complains.
"Especially when people are used to going out at ten," shouts Maslennikova.
Escape from everyday stress
Wind and Miku have arrived at the Barfly. They say they are concerned about the spread of Covid and the situation in Ukraine.
"It is good that these places are open again and people can relieve stress from everything that happens in the world," says Miku.
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Tuuli, a high school student, will soon be in the matriculation examination.
"It’s wonderful to let go of stress before I get quarantined." he says.
Tuuli and Miku say they always plan to leave the bar relatively early.
"It never happens. We’re probably here until the last call," The wind says with a laugh.
“Really significant moments,” students say
A long line of students dressed in overalls wraps around the Apollo Club in the center of Helsinki. The club will host an after-party event organized by Aalto University Student Union this evening, students say Fanni, Lassi and Shampoo.
This is their first big celebration in months. The lack of parties has made student life a lot more fun.
"It’s been more than all work and no play," says Lassi.
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They are particularly concerned about younger students.
"This is my fourth year of study and I have a lot of experience. Younger students in particular feel that getting into these great jobs creates really significant moments. And of course, it’s great to get to check this out for yourself and find out if the students still know how to party," says Fanni.
A few hundred meters away, Anna K’s karaoke bar is a little harsher. According to the doorman, the bar was full earlier in the evening.
Whereby She has arrived in Helsinki for the evening from Järvenpää and sent Anna K a feel for the city’s newly discovered freedom.
"Now that the bars have opened a lot, I had to party. This has been expected!"
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Milla, who works as a shift manager at the pizzeria, is relieved to see the restrictions finally lifted.
"Now we can open all the customer locations, which is a really great thing."
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Aleksi, who spends the evening with Milla, was also out the night before singing karaoke. Once again, he grabs the microphone and makes his best impression a Phil Collins ‘classic:
"I feel it coming into the air tonight, O Lord. And I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life, O Lord …"