Should we be concerned with protesting in Paris?
 

Here a link for the article from yahoonews:

news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070509/wl_nm/france_sarkozy_strike_dc

It mentioned that protesting had been going on for 4 days already, and this article focused on students protesting in the Latin Quarter on Blvd. St. Michel. Is this just hype, or is it really getting bad?

I'm concerned since I believe, Sarkozy will be elected into office on May 16, and we will be arriving into Paris on May 21st. I'm guessing there will be even more demonstrations/protests going on when he is sworn in. I'm sure the media exaggerates things, but I am concerned if it's escalating
into a big issue.

I don't know if it's hype, but protests in Paris have been going on a long time for various things, so I wouldn't say you should be concerned. I certainly wouldn't be, but I've been there at various times when protests have occurred.

What would your options be? Cancel your trip? Would you advise someone to cancel a trip to Washington DC because of the periodic protests against the war? They happen every few months, and I live there. I don't leave town.

Last year I was in Paris during the March riots and demonstrations. The entire area around the Sorbonne was baricaded and there were extra troops in the streets. I was staying right there in the 5th - and yet there was absolutely no impact on my trip.

Another time way back in the 70's I was in Paris during really serious student rioting/demos, and again absolutely no impact.

In fact I think there has been something going on almost every time I've visited Paris.

I would no worry about it . . . .

No, we wouldn't cancel our trip, but I did notice that alot of the protests were focused either in the Bastille area or certain areas of the Latin Quarter, and perhaps, we would think before heading out to these areas.

I know many seasoned world travelers would not even bat an eye, but I have only left the US once(back in 2002), and our friend who is coming with us, has never left the US. Along with that, we are all females, and always try to use good judgment so that we are never in a dangerous situation.

Thanks Janisj - hopefully you won't be in Paris when we are :)

I didn't cause the riots - honest :D

Paris is a big city. You can easily avoid areas of trouble. They probably won't be demonstrating around museums and tourist areas. Your hotel probably has CNN, its the European version and will contain up to the minute info about what is going on. You might run into a transportation strike and that can be a bummer, but not the end of the world. Take a tourist sight seeing bus or walk, instead.

Transportation strike?

I would think that you would become aware of any undesirable activity soon enough to deviate from that immediate area (by the sound, thickening crowds, more police..). In other words, you can skirt around any protest groups and go elsewhere.

We have happened onto protests on several occasions. Though they all were obviously peaceful at the moment, we always skirted around them rather than heading into/through them.

Another time we were at the Arc de Triomphe and it was very apparent "something was up" with unusual security, dogs, machine guns...we decided to pass on going up that night rather than feel nervous about it and not enjoy the experience.

I think if you use common sense and go with your gut feeling, you'll be fine.

Thanks travenut and klondike!

Anna1013: Yep - now you have transportation strikes to worry about. OK - last year in March there was a one day strike that affected museum staff and transport workers. But not the long distance trains - so that day I went to Chartres.

Strikes are a way of life in many parts of Europe - if there is one it will not ruin your trip. Stuff happens . . . .

Janisj,

You mean strikes in general right? I thought kleroux was referring to an actual strike that will be happening, not just the prospect of one.

OK,now we know why the police presence around the Maubert/Mutualite metro stop (right around the corner from our apartment).so I guess we will walk out the other way down to the Seine from here....

Just go about your plans.

As someone mentioned, should you wander near any protests, there will be a huge police presence, and you can just avoid the area.

Daka,

You mentioned police presence around the Maubert/Mutualite metro stop - if we wanted to go to the Maubert Market would we be hindered from doing so?

Only if there is a riot in progress. They try to keep innocent bystanders and tear gas apart.

Things were calm last night. I wouldn't really expect much activity until the legislative elections.

Thanks Kerouac,

When will the legislative elections take place?

Forgot to add...

Kerouac,

Do you really think it will not be bad when he takes office on May 16?

They are always protesting in Paris about something or other. Hardly a day goes by when there is not some gathering or march or strike or some such lark.

A lot of cars get burned regularly as well.

However, if you are walking around Paris, you'll rarely see any disturbance and often the marches or protests are quite jolly affairs.

We're not talking Beiruit, after all, it's Paris.

There was even a strike at Monoprix and FNAC last week...

Things are going to settle down as calmer heads prevail. Even the most hot-headed revolutionary youth understand sooner or later that excessive behavior does not advance their cause, especially in the context of upcoming elections.

The legislative elections will be held on June 10th (1st round) and 17th (2nd round).

How do we invest in a car dealership in Paris. They really have a "thing" about burning cars and I'm assuming that they will be replaced at some point? Ka Ching!!!

Thanks kerouac -

How long were Monoprix and FNAC on strike last week? Does that happen often?

Ten minutes by foot from Place de La Bastille, and the disturbances there have not troubled us at all, though I do think it would be appropriate to move the anti-Sarkozy protests to the 6th and 7th arrondissements, which voted overwhelmingly for him. Also, I must speak up for poor Lebanon, specifically Beirut! My wife was there for several days during the recent, long Hezbollah protests, on a couple of occasions in the streets with the demonstrators. Those were mostly good spirited, too, she reported.

Thanks dave,

Always nice to hear from someone near the action.

Most strikes in Europe are one day only so don't be concerned. They even are kind enough to annouce them in advance so you can plan accordingly!

I don't think I've ever been in Paris when there hasn't been some kind of march or protest going on. It really is kind of interesting to see.

I got "held hostage" - well more like locked-in to shop 2 years ago when protets were going on.

As luck would have it, it was La Grande Epicerie in the Bon Marche.

It was like a dream come true. I was kind of hoping it might last for a few days and I'd be given free reign. Unfortunately we were "released" after a few hours.

I would have thought worry when the French are not protesting

The Monoprix and FNAC strikes went unnoticed. When you live in a country with only 8% of the work force unionized, most of the strikes are invisible.

Our trip to France was nearly ruined by striking in 1999... we were unable to visit the Louvre because of several days of consecutive striking. All public museums and monuments were on strike at the same time.

My mom was very supportive at first, but by the 4th or 5th attempt to see the Louvre... we lost a bit of respect for them. Seeing huge groups of tourists sitting around that pyramid was interesting, too... bus loads of people with no where else to be!


Gotta love the French.

%%-

No problem whatsoever. If there is any trouble anywhere you will not be able to go that place. The Bastille with the rather ghastly Paris Opera will surely be void of problems during the day. Riots in Paris are a 'way of life' and personify what Sarkosy wishes to change. They are joined by people who have no intention of working or making an effort elsewhere. Often there is a buffet served and musical entertainment included in the area so that they can eat, drink and be merry while they complain. Thank your lucky stars that Sarkosy was elected. Perhaps now France will be able to stop the brain drain and move forward!

Unfortunately, the country is being taken over by undesirable elements. I don't know if Sarkozy is too little, too late.

I am glad I went to France before all this madness started.

Sarkozy is already being criticized by some for telling people to "get back to work" and then going on the vacation on the so-called "floating palace."

Apparently some people are only supposrtive of strikes when it doesn't affect them directly.

I'm just back from my stay in the Latin Quarter. A little over 24 hours ago I had dinner in the section with the tiny restaurants and the hawkers trying to get people to eat in their establishments. Around the city I saw more police than I have ever seen, but no demonstrations or protests. In one instance near our hotel the police were enjoying their beers.

I was amused a few years back when I was in my local Franprix, and 2 big blue riot squad (CRS) buses pulled up in front of the store. All of the passengers piled out of the buses at top speed, fully equipped with all of their riot gear, minus their plexiglas shields. They proceeded to run into the store to stock up on candy, junk food, Coke and other stuff for their long evening of sitting on the bus somewhere doing nothing.

Wasn't there an article a while back about excess sugar and junk food scrambling the brain?

Anna-I'd be concerned if the students WEREN'T protesting!

Sarkozy has already outdone his heroes Bush & Blair - he's said he's going to unite France (just like Bush & the US) and he's taken a freebie holiday from a rich & powerful friend (just like Blair)

Right now, he is recruiting centrist and 'leftist' government ministers. I am sure that he will find a couple of them. I am also certain that they will leave and slam the door within six months. But now is the time to promise the moon to everybody.

Thanks everyone... what about when we leave Paris to visit Versailles? Won't we be traveling through the suburbs, or will it be fine?

The western suburbs are all totally bourgeois, to keep in line with the history of the area. Nothing has changed in 300 years.