http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11570828

I've read the news. Was looking for comments from just plain folks.

It is getting pretty unclear where this is headed now. There are fewer strikers but quite a bit of unpredictable hardline activity. And since the French public supports the strikers 71% so far, there is no reason to expect a quick return to normal. Things like the refineries, the port of Marseille, armored car services, garbage collection in Marseille, several hundred high schools, truckers, the state radio stations, some postal workers and a wide variety of transportation are all on strike.

Daily life for most people is not disrupted yet, but it would not take much for that to change if suddenly there is no more cash in the ATM's, fresh food at the supermarket or fuel for vehicles.

That's when it begins to get interesting. Everything that has happened so far is just foreplay.

Unfortunately, what's foreplay to politicians is a definite turn-off to travelers!

I've got to have my sister out of Paris and to Frankfurt next Wednesday for her flight to the States...if I can't be assured of a TGV departure without a problem (she's got a turkey of a boss who would fire her for any reason, valid or not), we won't be making the trip into France; at this point I can't even consider driving instead of taking the train because of the petrol situation.

An alarmist would assume it's not even safe to venture over the border for fear of having the gas potentially siphoned out of your tank while parked overnight in a public parking...or worse, turned over and burned.

One of the neighboring countries may garner our euros this time, I fear; I would be so disappointed for my sis--her first and probably only trip, but I'd hate to see her lose her job.

I am contemplating a mid November trip. Nothing is booked just yet, but I will admit the threat of fuel shortages has me worried, regarding the flights. The US news is reporting these strikes as quite serious. As someone who has never been to Paris, I do not know if I should risk going in this time frame or not. I could be falling for the media hype, I just do not know!

I've read the news. Was looking for comments from just plain folks.

Sorry....I thought that the video would interest you.....

The government claims that there will be no fuel shortages in two days. Don't you believe what the government says?

I'd be surprised if there were any difficulties in November. Even the hard-line strikers get tired after a while and are ready to go home and back to work.

Never pay any attention to the news, as it truly has no connection with reality.

I had no problems buying diesel this morning in Rieux Minervois, although they had sold out of Super Sans Plomb. The circus came to town, with much hooting of horns and a camel in a cage on the back of a truck. The supermarket was busy, but no signs of shortages or panic buying, and there is plenty of traffic, including trucks, on the road.

As Kerouac says, nobody knows what it will be like tomorrow or next week. I cannot imagine the type of employer who would sack someone who was unable to get home for reasons outside their control.

It's a cruel world.

I'm so glad I was in Paris LAST October around this time instead of this October! Maybe I'll be safe planning a trip for next May? I hope so!

We have reservations in Paris at the beginning of November. Needless to say, as elderly travelers, we are very anxious about the trip. We are almost to the point of canceling our Paris reservations and flying to Rome instead. Is there a travel website where we can get valid, current reporting of the conditions in Paris?

We're scheduled to arrive Saturday -- I'm stalling on the apt deposit as we're unsure about what to do since we just started planning this last week. I'm guessing that Air France will allow changes/cancellations without a fee so the only cost will likely be my angst of missing my bday trip.

I admire the French, however, for not just rolling over when the state imposes measures. It's jarring to hear demonstrators say that they're afraid of ending up like U.S. citizens who have lost a social safety net. Do Americans have a stronger economy in return for all those concessions we've made in the past 40 years? Sure doesn't seem like it.

We were in Paris the last time they took to the streets. We knew what was going on by watching CNN. It was fine in the tourist areas, but the metro was a mess, the garbage had just started to pile up and some of the museums were closed. We only saw one "uprising" and quickly left. But this time is worse - much worse - so I'm not sure what I'd do if I was planning to go. It doesn't look like it will be ending any time soon, but you never know.

I want to remember this when they raise the SS age to 70 from the current 67 in the US. I hope we take to the streets. Where were we when they raised it the last time to 67?

I am sitting in Paris as I write...in the 5th. I arrived here one week ago on the day of the first strike and though the taxi ride was slow, we arrived at our apartment with no problem. Yesterday my DD left from CDG for the states with no delay..again, a slow taxi ride was about it.

The news we see at night is disturbing, but, I want to say that we have seen none of this in our area. It is beautiful Paris as usual, and though there is turmoil in some streets, it is not pervasive, and while I cannot predict what will come, I can say today is wonderful, quiet, and not to be missed

Ringerdog, I can understand your anxiety, I would have it myself if I were going in just a week or two. But there wouldn't be any travel website that would have accurate info geared to you, I'm afraid. I read the French press, as well as international stories, but it changes on a daily basis, if not more than that. No website is going to be comprehensive enough to tell you what you might want to know. For travel info, the local transportation authority has up-to-date info all the time on schedules and operations for metro and RER www.ratp.fr, they always do that. For train trips (don't think you are taking one, that would help if you were not), SNCF also has up-to-date info on their website. But it can change daily.

French officials don't even know what is going to happen on a daily basis. Right now, they are expecting the major vote is going to be postponed and won't occur until end of next week, maybe Friday. But they don't know on a daily basis when the union members will do. I was listening to a special radio show on this topic this morning (Diane Rehm had a whole hour on it and had French officials as phone-in guests, at least one) and they said one problem is the union officials are actually not quite as radical as the union members, so while they might not want strikes, the members do.

well, I just read the latest news. It is worse in some other cities than Paris, actually, so be glad of that (Marseille is about the worst, I think).

They expect the Senate vote on this law to be pushed back due to discussion (was expected Thursday eve) until maybe Fri-Sat. I think the vote I heard bout for next week was another vote but by some other body than the Senate, I'm not sure. In any case, Sarkozy says he won't back down. The police came today to unblock some oil refineries. Union leaders are meeting Thursday to decide their next move.

I'll read Liberation, a socialist paper, which I like and see what they have to say if it's anything different but probably not.

France tourism website won't help, of course, they don't mention it and won't as they want to promote tourism. US French Embassy site doesn't even seem to mention it much, either. Their latest newsfeed mentions the Al Quaida threat and other stuff, but nothing about the strike situation currently.

I just got off the phone with Continental Airlines, inquiring about changing our tickets to Rome instead of Paris without incurring a penalty charge. The service representative was of no help, and even tried to say that Paris had absolutely no problems with demonstrations or fuel shortages, and that the President's current terror alert for France was a minor problem. The financial penalties would be the same now as compared to prior to the terror alert and Paris disruptions. We are an elderly couple looking for a special vacation in Paris, but now we are filled with anxiety and fear of going to France.

Ringerdog - I wouldn't be overly concerned about your vacation. I've got friends in Paris now who are considered "seniors" -- let's just say one couple in their 60s, another in their 70s, and they haven't had any difficulties. Don't be afraid!

Paris is completely calm. The provincial cities are not. That is bad news for the government, because it means that it is a grassroots movement, not at all controlled by the usual Parisian puppeteers.

I've got a flight booked from the UK next Tuesday into CDG.

Yesterday the equivalent flight was cancelled, today it departed as usual with no delays.

I'm not worried. Most protests and demonstrations are happening well out of the centre of Paris, and there's plenty of police and military people around in Paris to keep things in order in the centre.

My main concern is that if my flight is cancelled I probably won't know until after the 48 hour hotel cancellation policy has kicked in! Oh well, it's only a bargain 72 euros a night so I suppose it wouldn't be that bad...

The terror threat is an on-going thing, and applies to pretty much every big city in the world, and a good number of other places too. It's just something we've all got to learn to live with. (I grew up with the threat of the IRA and their random targets in England. Nowhere was considered safe then - but we all just got on with life as per usual.) Anyway, you are more likely to get run over outside your house than be blown up by a terrorist.

Just got an email from our friends vacationing in Paris. They say everything is fine, no real problems, but their flight to Madrid has been delayed a day.

We flew home on Delta today from Paris -- no problems (except a little mental anguish wondering if there'd be a delay or cancellation. We didn't experience any problems on the metro while we were there. Took a day trip to Fontainebleau Sunday and for the train back we had to wait a couple hours because some runs had been cancelled. We didn't make a planned trip to Giverny because the day we were going to go there were no trains (Oct. 12) there.

It is beautiful Paris as usual, and though there is turmoil in some streets, it is not pervasive, and while I cannot predict what will come, I can say today is wonderful, quiet, and not to be missed.

Thanks, Traviata. Beautiful. Wish I were there, strikes or not.

JMHO - but if I were planning a trip to Paris - and hadn't booked anything yet, I'd wait until things were more predictable.

I have heard rallying in the streets for the past 4 days straight with no end in site - they block off streets for an hour at a time for the protestors to march.

And when you have that much emotion packed into one tiny space at a time like that, things can turn sour fast. And eek - the idea of atms having no money in them is suddenly my new worst nightmare - yikes, Kerouac.

This sucks -- I think we're gonna cancel our Fri departure. Normally, a deposit and airfare would lock us in and we'd just go but since there's no penalty in our specific circumstances, we're thinking to just take it as a sign.

Darn global fiscal crisis...

I wouldn't even consider cancelling. If a bus or metro is not working, just walk. I have so much around me and the convenience to so much, tht it is not a concern. I take my euros with me, so I don't need the ATM.

a bientot..

Joan

We leave next Thursday, and I hate caryying much cash, but this time a pit stop at Travelex or AAA may make sense. Kerouac you are always a great source of info. on what is really happening - please keep us up todate... thanks!

We were in Paris October 14th-16th. Our only problem was the TGV from Nice to Paris.
Once we were in Paris, we didn't experience any problems from strikers and you wouldn't know anything was going on!
There was some concern when we were all flying home, but it went fine!

It is said about 1 in 3 garages are empty, so 2 out of 3 are OK for fuel. I was on an ex-pats in France forum earlier and some say in their areas, not only do garages have fuel but there are no queues, so luck of the drawer.

IMHO...My only reason for cancelling a trip to Paris (regions, another story) would be if flights were starting to become delayed.

I've read that the school break next week will hopefully cool things off a bit.

Interestingly I've also read that seom 70% of the population supports not passing the new law.

My gf's fears are that she'll be stuck (I don't mind being stuck) and catch hell from her boss, the prospect of empty ATM's, some story she read about bistros and businesses not getting supplies. (The idea of running out of croissants did send a chill through me)

I'm so, so disappointed. Maybe I'll just go by myself.

I have had to cancel my trip to Paris next week due to a knee replacement 5 years ago that is giving me trouble. X-rays show nothing mechanical wrong,but alot of swelling if I walk very much. My Dr. advised against this trip for me at this time. I am not sure I would cancel due to the problems at the present,but maybe it is meant to be that I not go at this time. Just don't know what I would do if it were just the problems in France.
I had booked the trip on US Air miles so that means they will need to be used before the date booked expires.
I had visited Paris before and some other areas in France. I was looking forward to this trip and go to Normandy on a river boat tour which we had not done before and stay 3 days in Paris before the boat tour.
Let all of us contine to hear from France those of you who are there.

Another thing I meant to mention I had gotten tickets for the Monet exhibit on Oct. 29th 5:30 time for 2 of us. I wish someone could use them,but not sure with my name on them that would be possible.

There are no problems in Paris that would affect tourists. If you believe everything you see on CNN, you may as well hide under the bed. This is the same network that reported a 747 grazing the Golden Gate Bridge a few days ago (wrong), and an asteroid on a collision path with the Earth a few years ago (wrong), and huge dangers to the human race from solar flares also a few years ago (wrong again).

The only place I hear about trouble is on these news networks, and yet I'm sitting in Paris right now. This happens regularly—massive sensationalism and exaggeration replacing responsible journalism—and it seems to be getting worse all the time.

As for those of you who are afraid, stay home. Paris gets 25 million happy visitors a year, and it can easily do without the cowards.

Actually, I have not heard anything anymore about the armored car strike -- no problem with any ATM's anywhere.

Just about the only problems are out in the provinces, although there were some surprise RER strikes today, I read on Google Actualités.

i generally agree about the media as selling doom -- but in this case, i think it's to the protesters benefit that the media is making a big deal out of this.

Anyone who has been involved in protests knows how irritating it is when media downplays or minimizes resistance.

I just returned from France this past Tuesday (Oct 19), and I can say that as a tourist, I wasn't really that aware of what was going on. When we were in Paris in mid-September, we did see a peaceful demonstration at Place du Concorde, which required that our Hop-on-Hop-off bus detoured. There was a huge police presence in Paris and we heard sirens all the time, but it's a big city and I think that's to be expected. Most of the time we were in the country (Provence, Languedoc, Dordogne, Burgundy, Normandy) and other than a small demonstration in Sarlat last week (also peaceful), and posters, there didn't seem to be anything else going on. In the bigger cities, however, it could have been different. It wasn't until I read our local newspaper after arriving home that I realized that the long lines we saw at some gas stations and a slow down on the autoroute were related to the demonstrations.

If you're out of the big cities, I don't think you will experience much of the effects of the demonstrations. In the smaller towns you are dealing more with small business owners and farmers, so the union presence isn't as strong.

Unless you understand French, you won't get much news from French TV. We had English TV with both BBC news & CNN for 3 of the 5 weeks we were there, but even then didn't hear anything about what was happening in France.

We never felt unsafe or threatened while we were there.

We just returned from France via Amsterdam on Wed., Oct. 20. We saw high-school protestors in Orleans and Chartres on Thursday, Oct. 14, and in Gare St. Lazare the next day. They were peaceful. However, on Friday, Oct. 15, our train to Bayeux was canceled and we had to take another one that was packed with people who could not get the earlier train. In Bayeux over the past weekend our B&B landlady could not get diesel for her car and we saw long lines at the local filling stations. According to press reports today, one-fourth of gas stations have no fuel. Tour companies like Battlebus on Monday had only three days of fuel, and our Paris cabbie on Tuesday said his company only got half of their fuel allotment. One train from Bayeux to Paris was canceled on Tuesday. Also, on Monday, the Belgian train workers struck in sympathy with the French workers, thus canceling all Thalys trains for that day. The tourists we talked to in Bayeux were generally worried about train cancellations and fuel shortages. I do want to say that all the Frence individuals and travel people we came into contact with were very helpful and willing to work to deal with problems due to the strikes. I think the situation is fluid, especially for the next week while the fate of the bill is being decided, and then immediately afterward as we see what the reaction will be to whatever happens. Personally, if I were scheduled to travel to France in the next two weeks, I would consider my options.

Interestingly enough, after the evening news in France tonight showed the reports of the Marseille airport blocked, riots in Lyon, students marching in Paris, gas stations with no gas, etc., they announced the results of the latest opinion poll about the strikes.

69% of the French want the strikes to continue, even if they suffer inconvenience. That is down from 71%, but it is still pretty impressive for a chaotic and unpredictable situation, which is generally the opposite of what appeals to most people.

The government can hold steady and ignore the situation, but if so, it will have no political future. (And it probably already didn't anyway.)

Oh, meanwhile, two new strike days have been set, but you'll find out soon enough about all of that.

Thursday October 28th and Tuesday November 2nd.

So it looks like I'll be OK to fly in next Tuesday, but will I be able to get home again on Thursday? Hmmm...

How bad would a night spent at CDG T2B be?

I arrive the AM of the 29th, what should I expect transportation from CDG to the Marais to be like? Taxi's in service???

The one bit of advice I would offer about taxis from CDG is to book a shuttle with set fee. There were loads of taxis at the airport, even on strike day, however, the ride into Paris center was a slow one and we were very glad we weren't on a meter.....

Correction it in Nov 6th. Not the 2nd. I will be going with my College (44 of us) on Nov 4th. We will be getting in on the AM of the 5th. We will be there till the 12th. To be honest Im a bit freaked out by all this stuff going on. Mostly because we will be there right as all this stuff is going down. I don't for see them slitting my throat and throwing me into the river but yeah... bunch of angry people.. not my cup of tea. I will be doing a video log of everyday I am there in my trip and will up date one here as best I can. I think in the next few days or weeks it is going to get nasty. I hope we have a way out of paris.... but heck we are going with the owner of our college... she can foot the bill if we get stuck lol

good point Traviata - thanks

TG - 11/6 is a Saturday - seems like an odd day for a National strike???

>>seems like an odd day for a National strike???<<

That's the day for national demonstrations - i.e., so everyone can take part even if they aren't striking on work days.

Ah, thank you for the clarification!

>>As for those of you who are afraid, stay home. Paris gets 25 million happy visitors a year, and it can easily do without the cowards.<<

And, alas, we reach the inevitable point where a thread goes off the rails.

>>As for those of you who are afraid, stay home. Paris gets 25 million happy visitors a year, and it can easily do without the cowards.<<

Unfortunately what people perceive becomes reality when they are deciding where to go and certainly where to spend their very hard earned money. People can poke fun all they want or chastise, but losing tourism hurts economies. There are many places to go and quite honestly if I were in charge of the tourism department of some of the other countries in Europe I would be out there promoting my happy workers and calm streets. There really isn't an economy around that can't use the infusion of cash the tourists offer.

We were in the Madrid airport two days ago and they kept making announcements in the airport that if you were going to Paris, there may be delays or cancellations.

CDG is prioritizing long-haul flights at this point (like from the U.S.) so EU flights are absorbing much of the delays/cancellations.

Can anyone tell me if the Roissybus is running as usual on the strike days?

I assume there are likely to be delays on the RER out to the airport, and my budget does not want to allow me to book a private transfer, so the Roissybus would suit me well - if it is running that is!

Why are people always afraid that taxis will be on strike when there is a public transportation strike? Do people not understand that taxi drivers triple their earnings when there is a strike? Who on earth would go on strike in a situation like that, especially since the majority of taxi drivers are immigrants?

I don't think people are "afraid" in the sense of fear for their person, they just don't want a lot of trouble or to lose money, etc. I don't blame them, who wants a lot of hassles and expenses on their vacation they've been planning a long time. If you can't get out of town when you want or get your flight, you can incur extra hotel costs or have lots of other problems. This isn't delusional thinking.

Why is Saturday such an odd day for a strike. It's convenient, actually, being the weekend. The strikes mainly affect transportation and flights, what difference does it make what day of the week it is.

I don't think there is any RER service to CDG on weekend of Nov 6 and 7, in any case (work). I think there will be disturbances to the Roissybus tomorrow because there are demonstrations right around the Garnier Opera building, which will at least cause problems. Don't know about what happens in general.

We arrived in Paris on Oct. 12, the day the strike began. The only disturbance we experienced was to our nap that afternoon. Our apartment was close to Blvd. St. Germain and the striking workers were marching down the boulevard with loudspeakers, drums, music, etc. Instead of napping, we sat in our window and watched the "parade" for over 3 hours. That was the only evidence we saw of the strike -- other than on CNN. Our flight home on Oct. 21 was a dream -- no line at the detax office, no line at Delta check-in, and almost no line at security. Our flight left on time and arrived home on time. I hope everyone who is worried about the strikes has as lovely a time in Paris as we did!

We just returned from France and we were there during this last big strike. It does impact the tourist. They closed the d'Orsay and made us wait outside for 90 minutes in the cold and then opened it. The next place was the L'Orangerie. They delayed the opening by an hour. The following day was the Louvre and they delayed the opening 75 minutes. We went to St Chapelle twice and they had a sign saying "closed due to the strike". We did not feel any affects on the metro. I heard some tourists say they closed the Eiffel tower one day and another one said they closed Versailles one day. I can't confirm that but that's what they were saying as we were waiting in line. Overall, we had a great time but it does put a little kink into your scheduling so just be prepared for that. We flew out of Paris on Monday October 18th and we had no trouble getting out on BA. However, they told us they expected to cancel 30 percent of their flights the following day due to th strike. I cannot confirm if that happened.

What has been the reaction in Paris, now that the retirement age has officially been changed? What is the general feeling about the strikes, will they continue to impede the opening of various tourist sites?

No reaction yet, since it is the weekend. We have to wait until Monday to see if the vote enraged the strikers or just depressed them. The refineries are still blocked in any case.

In any case, tomorrow's Sunday paper will be publishing a poll showing the Sarkozy is still dropping in the public opinion -- now at 29% approval.

He'll soon be less popular that W was. As if it makes a whit of a dif to him.

I thought we were escaping the political circus by coming to France on Nov 3, but it appears we're just substituting political dramas.

The Eiffel Tower was closed one day due to the strikes, I think it was the last one. I think that was just because workers had trouble getting there due to transportation problems, and that may have been why the museums opened an hour late or whatever, to allow for workers to get there.

I saw a photo in the paper yesterday about some folks walking to the airport near Marseilles because they couldn't reach it due to blocages by transportation (or walking from it, not sure which).

Christina, all the workers were at the museum. At the d'Oray, they were having a meeting and voting in the front lobby as all the tourist watched outside. After the vote we'd say half of them left. We could only access the first floor that day. The Louvre, all workers were there as well from my understanding. A group of them stood in front of the entrance holding a banner. Then they left.

Is anyone aware of protests taking place in Normandy and in Bordeaux? Is there a petro shortage in Normandy or in Bordeaux or along the autoroute? I have read that truck drivers have been driving very slowly in support of the protesters. Is this sitll happening? Any insights are most appreciated.

The protests are taking place everywhere, optimusO. Only about 20% of the petrol stations are dry, but that doesn't mean you don't have to wait at the others. A few places are limiting sales to a fixed amount. Basically, Brittany is the hardest place to find petrol at the moment.

How can we find out in advance of any closings of museum or other tourist attractions? In addition, how can we find out about transportation slow-downs or cancellations?

The internet.

Ringerdog - another good source would be the concierge at your hotel. They have been dealing with the situation for a couple weeks, now, and probably have many alternative ideas when unexpected closings occur.

tt

If you don't carry around a laptop (which I do not), I think someone in your hotel is the best bet to ask. They shold know the websites to check. Some hotels have internet available in the lobby or small room--sometimes free, sometimes a fee. If they are busy, it would not be a good idea to ask, and really, sometimes you just can't plan everything. I wouldn't worry about some museum or tourist atraction being closed myself, that isn't common at all. And if it were, I'd just go somewhere else, there is plenty to do in Paris, I never cn do everything I might like.

I wouldn't ask about every little metro problem, either, that isn't productive, but I can see asking about the RER to the airport on your last day or something like that, if you were going that way. I don't know where Ringerdog is going, but if it's just around town on the metro or RER I wouldn't bother asking about it. So there is a slowdown, so what. It never completley shuts down.

Well, I'm off to Paris tomorrow!

I don't anticipate any problems tomorrow or Wednesday, but I am awaiting Thursday with some trepidation as I expect my flight back to the UK to be cancelled.

EasyJet are saying on their website that currently no flights to/from France are affected, but that they will have to cancel some flights. My equivalent flight was cancelled on the last strike day.

Unfortunately with EasyJet you are not put on the next available flight as a matter of course. You have to rebook or request a refund.

So in case of cancellation, my Plan A is to rebook for the next day. Plan B is to get the overnight bus to London, and then a bus or train/bus to Bristol Airport. Eurostar is WAY too expensive when left to the last minute so does not feature even as a Plan Z!

Still, meeting with my friends and going to the Monet exhibition at the Grand Palais should make any possible problems well worth any aggravation!

I don't have a laptop or fancy internet phone, but will have to be checking the EasyJet website so will post here if any Parisian Problems are encountered.

Two questions please. I am going to Paris tomorrow. I usually take the Air France bus (coach)
to the Gare Montparnasse, since I have a tiny room nearby. Does anyone know if the bus from the airport into Paris is running as usual?

My second question is the Monet exhibit. Finances are always a problem, and so I don't know if I am unwise to go stand on line to get a ticket, (I heard it's pretty cold in Paris), ....if it's not wise to do that, are there any other suggestions. I shall be leaving Paris on November 14.

Thanks for any advice.

Thea ...

I believe everything is as usual in Paris tomorrow.

Re the Monet exhibition, see this thread...

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-major-monet-shows-fall-2010.cfm

I think you really need a ticket to avoid long lines, but links to book online are there in the thread. But you may find Grand Palais tickets are pretty much sold out. Try the Marmottan exhibiton instead.

The Air France buses have been running with increased frequency on strike days, since they are a private and extremely profitable operation.

kerouac and Julia:
Thanks for the swift replies. Good news about the buses, and not so great news about the Monet exhibit. I shall try to follow the thread you advised and see where it brings me.
Thanks so much again,
Thea

MY TINY MAID'S ROOM .By the way, one of the reasons I am going to Paris, is to find out what my little room with wine cellar in a great location in Montparnasse is worth.

If I decide to sell it, I shall sell it for a very reasonable price. It's only a block and a half away from the Gare Montparnasse. Ideal transportation for all of Paris. Not to mention the Coupole and Select restaurants within a few blocks walk. 20 Minutes walk from the Jardin de Luxembourg. Simply a great location.

It is a tiny maid's room (one floor up), charming, with no shower, but hot and cold running water in the sink with a spout that can extend so I can wash my hair. I take sponge baths. I have a tiny refrigerator, and have even put together a tiny kitchen area. The toilet is in an old fashioned cobblestone courtyard with many flowers, (very old fashioned). The room can only accommodate a single person, or two people who like eachother very, very much. I use the ancient wine cave (cellar), to store any excess items I need, (in large oilcloth bags). It's quite romantic and charming. I've been using it for the last 10 years, since I am an "escape artist", adventurous painter from New York.

In any case I have had it for 10 years, and am trying to decide if I should let it go. Ergo, my frequent flyer trip to Paris. Looks like I may miss out on the Monet exhibit. I followed your thread Julia, and it lead me to November being sold out on line. So sad. Well at least I can "wipe my tears" and enjoy the Organic Market on Bl'vd Raspail on Wednesday when I arrive. Cheers, Thea

Thea, maybe you can work out a deal with poster above? Don't remember her dates.

You tiny maid's room sounds very quirky. You say: The toilet is in an old fashioned cobblestone courtyard with many flowers, (very old fashioned). Is it shared with someone else? Bet a few of us would be curious about the price!

FWIW, DH and I have been in Paris on the day Bush invaded Iraq and when the students marched. It was business as usual for us. I do hope that the French people will see the financial need for working more years. In the US, the Social Security full bennies were pushed up-it's such a function of a small population supporting a large one, eh?

Sorry to hijack this thread.

Hopefully, I shall make it to Paris today in a reasonable fashion. Leaving from La Guardia, with a change in Boston. If all goes well, (which I'm optimistic that it shall), I will let you know
what I find out about the price of my room in Montparnasse. After 10 years, I'm curious myself. Conflicted about letting it go. I shall see.

I'm not so much concerned about the strike itself, as much as worried about my airline cancelling my flight either going or returning. Otherwise, I can always walk in Paris. It's such a pleasure. Hopefully the strike doesn't lead to massive accumulations of trash. That can be
truly unpleasant.I'll stay with my writing to you all after I arrive. So great to have you all out there to share with.

ttt

Thea1 - looking forward to your post, we arrive Thursday AM at CDG!

I arrived yesterday without any difficulty. Today I have used buses and the Metro with absolutely no problems. Everything is as it should be.

Tomorrow is Strike Day.

My flight back to the UK has already been cancelled but I expected that. I now fly out on Friday, having been given the gift of an extra day in Paris.

V quick reply, all seems to be as normal. Lots of buses, Ive not used the metro today. Museums all appear to be open. Apart from a lot of police cars and sirens there is nothing to tell you theres a strike on today. The street cleaners zere out and about early this morning under my window!

I have a first trip to Paris scheduled to depart NY November 5th to arrive mid-day November 6. I'm really considering changing the flight to mid-March due to the strikes. I'm just so excited to see Paris and this is a really meaningful trip and I'm worried places will be closed or all my planning will be for nought. It's $250 to change the tickets and i'm just sick about it. I just don't know what to do.

We just returned from 2 1/2 weeks in France. We were there through several of the days that made news in the US, but experienced only minimal disruption of our trip -- there were fewer trains running to Versailles so our wait for a train was about 30 min rather than 15. Oh, and the stairs to the Arc de triumph were closed the day we went there. That was about it. We spent the last 12 days touring the Loire, Brittany, & Normandy areas and didn't have any difficulties obtaining fuel for the car. Some stations were closed, others limited purchases to 20 Euros, and sometimes we had to wait behind 3 or 4 cars, but it wasn't any big deal. We experienced far more impact from closures due to the end of the summmer season than anything related to the strikes -- but that was mostly in the beachy areas in Brittany.
It was our impression that the strikes weren't really having the impact the organizers had hoped/expected. It was unclear if there was much enthusiasm for continuing to disrupt transportation for no noticeable outcome. Only you can make a decision, but based on what we experienced, we were glad we didn't cancel our trip and come home early. We had a wonderful time and can't wait to go back.

Just returned from Paris after much discussion of not going because my sister couldn't risk getting stuck in Paris due to strike.

To Ringerdog in particular: Hope your plans for Paris are still "on". Besides some trash not being collected, we saw no signs of disruptions during our 3 days in Paris. How much we would have missed if we had "played it safe"!

The media seems to have really sensationalized things a lot; when we checked at the Gare de l'Est to make sure that had been no delays or cancellations, the personnel seemed genuinely surprised that we were checking in.

Go!!! Paris is wonderful and even if every attraction is not open you will enjoy kicking back for a glass of wine and enjoying the cafes, parks and the architecture. I am going in December strike or not! In fact, just enjoying the pastries, bread, cheese and wine is really all that's on the itinerary this trip.

Perhaps we were lucky that in the 10 days of our stay in Paris we experienced only the most minimal of disruptions due to the strike -- the Louvre opened a little late on the day we were there, and the most direct train to Versailles wasn't running and we had to take another and walk about a mile to the palace. When watching CNN every evening we had to wonder if we were really in the same country they were reporting about.

Lee1102 - I have been in Paris since the 21st and will be leaving the 31st - I was worried too before I left - but it has been absolutely fine! Still come! Staying in the 6th, I have seen two peaceful parades - and that's it. The weather has been great too!

I am an American living in Reims, just a bit north of Paris and the 12th largest city in France - we have seen nothing of any merit here, the gas stations are a little short of diesel at times but no problem finding it somewhere in town - otherwise all is normal, the media is overplaying in my opinion.

Just atrived this AM, no problems, no issues average traffic, everything is operating fine. So far so good, other than the minimalist and lousy food on US Airways.

Go! we were worried as you were but decided to go (we just came back to US yesterday). The TGV's were more crowded than usual (there were lots of mergers), we were not able to occupy our 1st class seat but other than that, it was OK. Do not even bother to call the SNCF office; they do not give you accurate info; just show up at your designated train station at your scheduled departure time....if yours is cancelled, you can always board the next one. We passed by demos around Luxemburg Garden and Pantheon but it seemed everything was under control and there were lots of police.

Uh, have heard nothing about strikes in awhile...is this all over now (for those living there, please)? or are more planned....kinda thinking that no news means the people have moved on and accepted the change, is that the case?

We just returned from Paris and did not encounter any strikes or demonstrations at all. Everything was very peaceful. There were some closings due to Armistice Day observances and parades, but all in all, we had a enjoyable trip despite all the rain.

Next strike is scheduled November 23.

thanks...is the cause losing steam?

thanks...is the cause losing steam?

Yes, definitely.

However, this is the sort of issue that is "gone but not forgotten." Flare-ups are always possible, but not until after the Christmas season now.