k9korps

We have friends there, and were just wondering whether the strikes are having any real effect on travel, etc. Anyone there now who can report?

alihutch

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

k9korps

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

kerouac

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.

klondike

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.

carmella88

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!

alihutch

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

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

kerouac

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

AnthonyGA

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.

chartley

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.

kerouac

It's a cruel world.

Sue4

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!

Ringerdog

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?

fishee

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.

christabir

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?

Traviata

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

Christina

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.

Christina

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.

Ringerdog

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.

uhoh_busted

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!