What a disaster in Paris right now. Thankfully, we are not there this Christmas holiday season. Our trip last year was ruined by the Gilets Jaunes.

The French love to set things on fire. 🔥 😂

Thin,aristocrat 🤺

I was thinking that I wouldn't want to be visiting just now... Imagine the poor first-timer to Paris!

I wish the op that had the husband with the root canal problem would tell us if they went or not. The gridlock is bad for those living in the outer part of the city.

will be flying home from Paris next July and was planning two days in the city but honestly not sure I want to take the risk...strikes here...strikes there...gilet jaunes and more and more unrest. Really a country in turmoil...not good at all for the citizens and not easy for tourists.

2018-2019, une année de violence en France.*

Thin,aristocrat ❄

Paris was not a disaster at all. Flew over last Wednesday night. Arrived at CDG gate at 9:40, driver from Victor Cabs was waiting after immigration and we arrived at the Hotel de l'Abbaye shortly before 11. Absolutely zero traffic anywhere. That said, shops and restaurants were open.

On Friday business appeared to return to normal. Traffic was heavy coming in from CDG as it took my friends about 1-1/2 hours to get to the hotel. Most Metro lines were not operating (I understand lines 1 & 14 are driverless and may have been) and a number of bus lines were operating at reduced schedules. We walked everywhere and used Uber when necessary. Saturday was more of the same. Still no Metro but shoppers were out and restaurants were very crowded. Problems still exist on the SNCF as trains still being canceled.

Flew home Sunday. It was a great weekend.

It would be a shame to cancel a trip to Paris at Christmas because of strike worries. Pick a neighborhood and get to know it really well. I flew home from the US yesterday, arriving at CDG at 10 am. No taxi line at all. The fixed price guaranteed that I wouldn't be charged more than the standard 50 euro to get to my home on the right bank (left bank 55 euro) and it did take one hour, compared to the usual half hour. I haven't been out of the 18th yet but I have a party to go to in the 7th tonight. Citymapper says the buses are running fine so I'll give that a go. Uber is twice the usual cost.

One of my friends mentioned that the Grand Magazins were empty. It could be heavenly to have that tree at Galeries Laffayette all to oneself! And you can ice skate on the roof free right now (as long as you have your own skates).

I've lived here two years and have managed to avoid the gilet jaunes, never seen a burning car, and other than some minor transportation problems have not been impacted by any of the manifestations or pertubations. I was more impacted by the celebrations following the world cup win.

If you are a worker who has to find their way to the office from outside of the city, yes... this is a mess. If you're on holiday, you'll most likely be fine.

Edited to add this little live video from my friend Oliver from last night.

https://tinyurl.com/s7nssco

Come stay in Montmartre and explore. You can walk to the Grand Magazins, or just stick in Montmartre and check out places you've never been before. It's lovely (and cold!)

Thanks for the video, Belinda. Looks so festive. Scotty, beam me up to Montmartre.

Oh how pretty! Thanks for sharing! We will be staying in Montmartre in a couple of weeks!

Thanks, Belinda, for the video. So fun to follow along with him!

Envious but happy you were there when the holiday decorations are up. Can't wait to return one December. One night was not enough in October!

Starrs,

Nothing beats sitting in front of that fireplace on a cold night at Christmas time.

I heard Oliver talking about that on his podcast! Because of his joy for Montmarte I am going to stay there on my April trip

I love his joy for living in Paris

I'm beginning to question my decision to stay in Bagnolet. Probably it will be all over by then.

It's magical.

Maybe next year.

I like staying in walking distance of my favorite things ANY time of year, but especially in cold months and ESPECIALLY this year. For me, "extra room" is not a valid trade-off when one has limited time in the city and the extra room comes at the price of more travel time in cold weather. Enough room for everyone to sleep works for me. My "extra room" would be all of the lovely places to spend time in the city...including a sofa or cushy chair in front of the fabulous fireplace.

For me, it's the 6th in Paris.
In NYC in winter I'd really rather be in walking distance to Broadway shows from a hotel than a 2 br apartment on the UWS.
As a visitor, I don't want to spend the limited time I have commuting to the places I want to see/ experience.

I love Paris when the normal routine is shuffled. I didn't need to walk from Chatelet to Porte de la Chapelle this afternoon since there were buses running, but I truly enjoy rediscovering the streets and trying new itineraries on foot. And I don't mind if all of the oldies stay cooped up in their tiny microcosms, because I am only 67 years old and still sufficiently spry to go anywhere.

In NYC, you can easily stay on the UWS and take the 123 subway trains to Times Square or the ABCD trains to Port Authority for Broadway shows.

Thin,aristocrat ✂️