Yikes! Strikes!

[geordy]

I just read the teachers are striking Mon. and Tues. and also a General Strike Tues about raising retirement age.

Won't go into Wed. will they?

[PariS]

Maybe not, but by Wed. they'll be striking over something else, Geordy! LOL However, we know that nothing, strikes or otherwise, is going to stop you from taking Paris by storm! ;D Have a great time!

[Anne]

Don't worry Geordy, the big retirement strike is due on Tuesday only.
Hardly any tramways or buses running in Strasbourg that day, that means me driving the kids to and from their lycée in heavy traffic

[geordy]

And I was worried about strikes??

No problem there..only Tues.

Getting home yesterday was another matter. Supposed to land at 8:30 PM but due to the storms here...JFK was closed and we didn't have enough fuel in our dinky little American Airlines 757 to circle so we went to Boston to refuel and then came back!

Boston was holding us hostage for abit...finally took off about 11:00PM. Got to JFK and no gate available, on the tarmac no buses, stairs etc. Pilot parked in an active taxi way so they'd have to pay attention!! Long wait and then long, long for luggage. Left JFK via cab(wait there too : at 2Am. Got to bed about 3. 3 hours sleep, and I'm at work...buzzing along on adreneline...this will not last!

Left Paris early so as to not miss this flight! Ha!!!

More when the dust settles!!!!!

[PariS]

Geordy, what a hassle getting home! Hope your trip was so wonderful that these last few hours don't mar your memories too much. Thanks for checking in--glad you're home safe and sound. You are a trooper for being back at work already! Get some good sleep tonight!

[sunshine817]

There's another one *threatened* for the 23rd -- still about the retirement age. The local media is decidedly short on any kind of news, so it remains to be seen how inclusive it is. (yike. The folks on That Alternate forum are having hissy fits.)

[Jody]

Sounds like the plane from hell and then you had to g to work!

Know you had a wonderful time with the SO We want to hear all about it, well not ALL< when you are rested up

[geordy]

According to our hotel owner it is going to happen on the 23rd and be just as big or bigger!

[Shoesy]

You poor thing, Geordy! That was quite an ordeal! At least you'll be able to rest during the weekend.

[mossie]

I'm afraid strikes and Paris go together, they are often symbolic although that still does not lessen the nuisance if you are affected.

Sorry Geordy to hear about the airline mix up, sitting waiting is no fun at all. And a panic over fuel is all you need, those things don't make great gliders ;D ;D I know, I've tried

Makes me feel smug that I can hop on the Eurostar having sworn never to darken the doors of another major airport.

[holger]

Sorry about the flight ordeal but glad you are home safely. Hope you had a wonderful trip.

Just heard from UK friends that an all Europe strike is scheduled for the 29th of September.

We arrive at CDG, we hope on the 20th and should be in Shoesy's Chateau on the 21st. The 29th is our last day there as we will be in Paris on the 30th.

Hope the strikes don't mess up people's travel plans.

[sistereurope]

Well, I am sorry for any travelers who have their plans disrupted, but I gotta say, I admire strikers for taking a stand. I sure hope that we have some strikes over here if and when the powers that be try to raise the retirement age to 70 (which is a real possibility!) I know I'd be out there in full force!!

[kerouac]

Next strike is October 12th. This is the first one that has been filed as "unlimited" rather than 24 hours by certain trade unions.

I'm not expecting much, but you can never be sure.

[JustTravel]

Oct 6, 2010 12:12:48 GMT -5 kerouac said:

Next strike is October 12th. This is the first one that has been filed as "unlimited" rather than 24 hours by certain trade unions.

I'm not expecting much, but you can never be sure.

I am glad that we are arriving on Monday, October 11th. I still remember the hassle we had getting to our apartment by the Place des Vosges from CDG in November 2007. Fortunately we had private transport and had a driver who knew the ins and outs of Paris streets. i think it took almost a couple of hours with very heavy traffic and closed off streets!!!

Just a few more days.......

[geordy]

Anybody over there have any on the scenes info on Oct. 12 strikes?

Any lingering effects? I haven't seen much French news.

[sunshine817]

The 12th seemed to be a p.i.t.a. pretty much everywhere.

The 13th was a little better, but still reduced schedules.

Today it's still perturbed (loved the French word for that one) -- but it's nearer to normal.

I expect tomorrow to be a little better...and by Monday it *should* be all over.

[JustTravel]

Here are a couple of pictures from Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. on Pont Sully -



....the protestors



.....food vendor

[Jody]

We had absolutley no problems getting buses on strike day! Went to the carnavelet and Musee de la Chasse and took buses both ways. We had a reservation at Josephine Chez Dumonet and thought we might have a problem later in the evening so canceled and rebooked for tonight. Funny this s the 3rd time we've been in Paris on a strike day and never had a problem . The travel gods must look out for us. Never have rain either! You all might want to book when I do!

[PariS]

Glad to hear the strike hasn't been much of a problem--Mary has said the same thing. So Jody, since you leave just before we arrive, does that mean it's going to rain on us?!

[GitteK]

Well, as for me I didn't notice any strike going on at all !!! Yes, they had taken out some metro departures, but in general every 3 out of 4 trains were running and the same with the busses.

Big deal !!

Viel Geschrei und Wenig Wolle
Lots of screaming and only litte wool.......

Had I known the strike would hardly be noticeable, I would have ordered my taxi as I usually do, instead of being picked up 4 hours (FOUR) before flight time by that horrid "shuttle" ! Not doing THAT again. EVER !