My blog

The French take summer holidays very seriously.  Everybody, and I mean everybody goes on holidays, and pretty much all at around the same time - July and August.  This is a picture taken on July 11th, at the Montparnasse train station while we were on our way to Brittany for the long weekend.  A lot of these people were probably on their way to places called “centres de vacances” situated all over France.  These places employ people called “animateurs” (usually struggling students), who are in charge of organizing activities for kids and parties in the evening where everybody sings traditional “summer holiday” songs.  Everybody, and I mean everybody knows the words to these songs by heart.   They make movies about these places.  They sell “vacation” activity books for kids.  I’m telling you, in France, the summer holidays is an institution!  Which isn’t bad I suppose.  I guess I’d rather be at a centre de vacances singing my heart out than sitting at my computer figuring out how to display an “e accent aigu”.  Man, I need a vacation.

Today for the very first time, I found myself in a car driving around the “Place de l’étoile“, the huge roundabout that circles the Arc de Triomphe.  I was scared, because I’ve observed the traffic around that place from the top of the arc, and it’s crazy!  No lanes, cars coming in, cars wanting to exit, motorcycles zipping by.  Crazy!  Anyways, we managed to get out of there alive, and reach our final destination - Boulevard Haussman for the first day of the “soldes” - France’s seasonal sale period.  It lasts about a month, and everything goes on sale.  For example, you can buy a Marc by Marc Jacobs bag at 40% off!  More to come about that…

Today was the “Fête de la Musique” - a nation-wide celebration for music.  We decided to go to the neighbourhood near the Notre Dame.  Tons of people were out, but I was kind of disappointed that we didn’t get to hear many groups.  By the time we finished dinner at a restaurant, it was already 11pm — really, REALLY slow service.

Today I went to work for Universal Music near the Pantheon. This is what I saw when I went out for lunch…lots of police!

And this is what they were there for. Students manifesting against the elimination of 11,200 national education positions planned for September 2008.

Luckily I found a calmer spot to eat my dessert before going back to work. I had a nice view from the steps of the Pantheon. That’s the Eiffel Tower straight ahead in the distance. Tarte au citron…yummy!

Last night in Paris it snowed. Booo! Come on spring…my sandals and spring clothes are waiting for ya!

If you’re planning on coming to Paris, don’t come this week. Or even next week. The public transportation system here is on strike, or as they say, they’re on “grève”. This is a picture I took from the metro I was able to get on going home from work on the first day of strikes early last week (excuse the dirty window). And it has been even worse this week. As you can see, it would probably be a good idea to wait a while before adventuring over here! You know, to avoid waiting two hours for a metro and being pushed up against stinky people.

…Nicolas Sarkozy. He won the French presidential elections last night beating Ségolène Royal 53% to 47%. It was a close call, but I guess France is not ready for a woman president yet.

My tall americano (I said “D”, not “T”!) with a mi-cuit au chocolat et au caramel au beurre salé (half cooked chocolate cake with a salty caramel filling…ok, it sounds better in French, but believe me, it’s gooood.)