I have received many emails regarding the French pension protests in the last few days.The nine day strike reached a boiling point on Tuesday with youths rioting in Lyon and Nanterre, throwing bottles and smashing windows, protesting the raising of the retirement age from 60 to 62. That was the worst of it. Many people have asked whether it's safe to travel to Paris or not and if they should cancel or postpone their trips. My advice is that it is safe to come, so don't postpone or cancel your trip.
According to France 24 News, the CNN of France, yesterday was the worst of it and that it looks like the protests are waning, with the French getting weary of services and businesses being disrupted for an extended period. The police reported the demonstrations in Paris on Tuesday as peaceful with very few arrests and little or no violence. I was out and about in the city yesterday and everything seemed normal. There were lots of English speaking visitors walking the streets of the Marais.
Here is an transportation update from Wednesday:
Airports- Charles De Gaulle- Most flights were running on schedule.
Orly:25% of short haul/inner Europe flights were canceled.
Metro & RER trains: running full schedule
National Rails
TGV: One in two running on average.
From or to Paris: Three in four trains.
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Inter-province (avoiding Paris): One in two trains running.
CORAIL: Four in ten daytime trains running.
TÉOZ: One in two trains running on average.
TER: One in two trains running
There are no planned future protests and it looks like services will improve daily.
I understand your concerns, so don't worry, be happy, come to Paris.
Here is the link to the France 24 Travelers Survival Guide with daily transportation updates.
http://www.france24.com/en/20101020-france-strike-travellers-survival-guide-oct-20-pension
I am happy to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Cooking Classes. Come take an ethnic culinary journey with me and chef and caterer Charlotte Puckette, co-author of the bestseller The Ethnic Paris Cookbook (with Olivia Kiang-Snaije). First we will shop at a Paris green-market for the freshest ingredients and then return to Charlotteís professional kitchen near the Eiffel Tower to cook a three-course lunch. After, we will indulge in the delicious feast we prepared along with hand-selected wines.
Cost: 185 euros per person (about $240)
Time: 9:30AM- 2PM (approximately 4 1/2 hours)
Location: We will meet by a metro station close to the market
Class days: Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Minimum of 2 students, maximum 6 students.
Click here to sign up for the next class or for more info.
I am pleased as punch to announce the launch of Eye Prefer Paris Tours, which are 3-hour walking tours I will personally be leading. The Eye Prefer Paris Tour includes many of the places I have written about such as small museums & galleries, restaurants, cafes & food markets, secret addresses, fashion & home boutiques, parks, and much more.
Tours cost 195 euros for up to 3 people, and 65 euros for each additional person. I look forward to meeting you on my tours and it will be my pleasure and delight to show you my insiders Paris.
Check it out at www.eyepreferparistours.com
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