What's happening in France with the strikes?
Oct 27th, 2010, 11:57 AM
#82
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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.
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.
Oct 28th, 2010, 07:03 AM
#83
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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!
Oct 28th, 2010, 09:52 AM
#84
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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.
Oct 28th, 2010, 01:13 PM
#85
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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.
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.
Oct 28th, 2010, 02:01 PM
#86
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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.
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.
Oct 28th, 2010, 06:07 PM
#87
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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.
Oct 28th, 2010, 07:51 PM
#88
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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.
Oct 28th, 2010, 11:20 PM
#89
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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!
Oct 28th, 2010, 11:32 PM
#90
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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.
Oct 29th, 2010, 06:08 AM
#92
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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.
Nov 18th, 2010, 03:27 PM
#93
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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?
Nov 19th, 2010, 04:36 AM
#94
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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.
Nov 20th, 2010, 11:24 AM
#100
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Thanks...kinda thought so and I hate to admit that I am happy to hear that strikes aren't likely until after Christmas (after my trip is over...completely selfish, but hey it's only my vacation). Sorry for the double post above, not sure how I did that!
