Yes, the rail strikes continue here in France... Day 7, and no end in sight -- the government maintains it will talk, but will not back down on the retirement reforms. Every day is a new adventure in creating a plan to get wherever you need to go. In Paris, this usually involves repeated visits to the RATP web site for the latest updates on which trains and buses are running (or not) and how frequently. It it also involves more walking and certainly more waiting than normal, although at least the temperatures are now more mild even though there is rain. And sometimes, it is just too much and you decide to change or cancel your plans and stay home.
To add to the chaos, civil servants went on strike today as well in a separate action, although for just the ONE day, and for slightly different reasons but still to protest some proposed Sarkozy reforms that will impact them, and this includes teachers, postal workers, some hospital workers and even air traffic controllers (good luck if you've got a flight in or out of France today).
The long and short of it is, most people agree that France needs to make changes in many areas in order to stay economically viable and competitive in a global marketplace, and it can't do that without some major reforms. It is WAY too "top heavy" with civil servants for one thing. But no one wants to be the one to BE "reformed"; no one wants to suffer the changes. The French, by and large, tend to resist change on any level to begin with (it's just a cultural thing), so the changes the new government is planning must be pushing a lot of emotional "hot buttons" with French workers... and of course the students then get into the action and protest, too, just on general principle.
If you are planning to be a tourist here in Paris during the next week or so... brace yourselves. Bring good walking shoes, warm clothes and get a good map of the city. Yes, some trains and buses are running, but they are overcrowded and unpredictable. Count on walking a LOT.
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