nannibray

Hi All, ( DATE OF VISIT - May 6 - 12 - 7 days)
I understand that May 8 is WWII Victory Day in France - a NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

Any advice on closures, crowds, etc. that may occur on a HOLIDAY?
Should our itinerary be altered to accommodate the Holiday?
Any particular DON'T MISS things on May 8?
Any tourist sites that would be less crowded?
Will department stores be closed, etc??

Next question:
If we get a 4 day Museum Pass and there is a Metro strike (many museums close then
also in sympathy) can we be re-imbursed for not being able to use the pass (sounds like a fairly lame question). If we don't buy the pass until we arrive in Paris will we be able to know if there is going to be a strike in the next 4 days? How much notice time ahead is given before a strike?
Is the 4 day pass overkill for a week's stay? Will definitely use it for Versailles on Saturday.
Will not use the pass on a Monday or Tuesday.
Desired museums: (some for just a peek) Louvre, Orsay, Orangerie, Cluny, Montmartre ascension, Rodin, Army M. and Napoleon's Tomb, Versailles.
SEEMS TO ME WE WILL NEED A 4 DAY PASS.
Thanks to all.

nannibray

topping

Ackislander

That's quite a flood of questions!

I'll try to reply based on memory. With luck, Kerouac will see and reply with authority.

In general, on public holidays, department stores and specialty stores are closed, cafes open later, and public transportation is on a Sunday (reduced) schedule.

You can check the individual museum websites to see what is open. They don't generally move holidays to Mondays as we do in the US, so some museums continue to be closed on Monday if that is their regular day.

Bakeries will be open in the morning, convenience stores, mostly run by Tunisians, will be open, supermarkets won't. Restaurants will be closed, brasseries will be open and packed, especially for lunch. Parks will be crowded.

I should tell you to check on the date of Ascension Day, a moveable holiday around the same time. You could have two holidays in a short time!

I would look for events surrounding the end of the war. We saw the wreath-laying and a very moving parade for WW I Armistice Day on Nov 11 at the Arch de Triomphe. Security will be extremely heavy.

If you are interested in the Battle of Paris, you can read about it from the ordinary person's point of view in "Is Paris Burning." It will give meaning to all those wall memorials you will see. Tanks fought it out in the Place de la Concorde

Are you worried about a particular strike? If not, you need to calm down. They have them all the time, and there is nothing you can do about them!!!

You will have a great time whatever.

nannibray

Thank you, Ackislander. Lots of good info. I too, hope that kerouac will reply.
Do you think that May 8 may be a good day for the Montmatre area?

StuDudley

>>Do you think that May 8 may be a good day for the Montmatre area?<<

I think we visited the Montmartre area on May 1 - when even more places close. Montmartre is so touristy, that shops & restaurants almost never close. Good place to go on May 8, IMO.

Stu Dudley

Christina

Where would you get an idea that there is likely to be a strike on May 8th? Strikes usually occur on workdays, for one thing, not national holidays. And it seems they are much more common in the Fall, to me, although I'm not sure I've seen official haven't seen stats on when they are more common but I don't remember a strike in Paris on May 8th. I know plenty of them in Sept-Nov and there was a RATP strike last June, and one towards the end of May a couple year ago. They do have worker's demonstrations or marches on other days, and always on May 1st, but that isn't a strike.

StuDudley

>>I'm not sure I've seen official haven't seen stats on when they are more common<<

The French seldom (never??) go on strike from mid-July to the last week in August - when it is time for THEIR vacation.

Stu Dudley

nannibray

Thank you Stu and Christina. When we were in Paris in 2003 in early May, we had a museum
pass. There was also a metro strike during the time we were there and consequently some of the museums were closed. a strike limits what a tourist can do!
Was just wondering if they gave any advance notice that a strike will occur on a certain date
so that people can make arrangements.
Thanks for posting. You are very helpful.

StuDudley

>>Was just wondering if they gave any advance notice that a strike will occur on a certain date<<


Yep - they are required to announce a strike N days in advance. Someone here should be able to post what N is, and which web site you can inquire.

Stu Dudley

irishface

Ascension Day is May 29 this year. Easter is late and determines the date. So that should not affect your trip. I hope that you have a great visit.

Christina

as for whether you get a refund on a museum pass if there is a strike -- no, absolutely not.

Nikki

"If we don't buy the pass until we arrive in Paris will we be able to know if there is going to be a strike in the next 4 days?"

Not really an answer to your question, but there is no reason to buy the pass before you arrive in Paris, just in case you were considering that. You can always buy it at the first museum you go to, and you might want to make that one of the less crowded ones so you won't have a line to buy the pass.

The four day pass is not overkill if you intend to see a lot of museums, but they need to be four consecutive days.

PalenQ

Will not use the pass on a Monday or Tuesday.>

then you should do a Wed, Thur, Fri, Sat pass as many museums are half-priced on Sundays or even in the case of the Louvre free on the first Sunday of each month - or was and thus really crowded.

Yes most "greves" or strikes are forecast in advance - buy your museum ticket at the first museum you go to after asking about any potential strikes being forecast.

nannibray

THANKS AGAGIN. WAS PLANNING ON THE PASS FOR WED, THURS, FRI, AND SAT (VERSAILLES) BUT NOW AM THINKING THAT THE 6 DAY PASS MAY BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE . WOULD THEN USE FOR TUESDAY THRU SUNDAY.
SINCE THE PASS CAN BE USED FOR SUCH THINGS AS ARD OF TRIUMPH, MONMARTRE ESCALATOR
AND MAYBE EVEN MORE "NONE MUSEUM PLACES??

ming2609

Hi, will the stores along Champ Elysees and department stores be open on the 8th of May?

leslieq

Great information. We'll also be in Paris on May 8, so will check on museum closings, etc. and plan a neighborhood walk that day if things are closed. Wonder if the Pere Lachaise cemetery closes?

We were in the Cinque Terre when they had a train strike, many of the trails were closed that we planned to hike, AND our alternative of taking a boat to Portovenere was nixed due to choppy seas. We decided there were far worse things than being "stuck" in Riomaggiore!! We found a fantastic hike at the end of town up to the Sanctuario. Wonderfully atmospheric hike up an old pilgrim way...a highlight.

nannibray

leslieq
Yes, you are right on. Many times lemons turn to lemonade and are a blessing in disguise.

OPERA GARNIER
Does anyone know if the second floor Grand Foyer and Salon du Glacier can be seen without
buying a "tour" of the building? Since the Opera Garnier building is not covered by the Museum pass we would visit this building on a day after our museum pass expires.

leslieq

Hopefully we could visit a park such as Parc des Buttes Chaumont, Parc Montsouris, Parc Monceau, etc. on May 8? We don't want to be in museums all day, anyway! Imagine that Parisians would be out enjoying these parks on the national holiday as well...

All of these parks look beautiful.