Flood Warning !

I am not sure how many of you have been following the recent events that are happening in France for the past month or so, but it seems to me that France or the French government is digging itself a hole and now it's literally flooding. What I mean by digging a hole is that the country has literally been on strike for the past month and it looks like they won't be stopping anytime soon. Everything you can imagine from air transportation to train/metro transportation to oil refinieries - (gas stations literally had to close last week all over France because there was no gas to sell) to protests in the streets to truck and water transport,  all due to proposed labor laws which will greatly affect most French workers. I will discuss my thoughts on these strikes in a post later this week.

Last year, I shared this picture on Facebook, look at how spring-like it looks in Jardin des Plantes.

Un jour, une photo. Aujourd'hui "Spring in Paris in Jardin des Plantes" par Mickaël Voyphong http://on.fb.me/1h5krYo .

and this is what it looks like this year, it has literally rained every day all day for a week ! 

©Mairie de Paris/JB Gurliat

©Mairie de Paris/JB Gurliat

©Mairie de Paris/JB Gurliat
there is a sign that says "crue" 1910, that is where the flood was in 1910

©Mairie de Paris/JB Gurliat
 

As you can see Paris, is literally almost under water !

And actually, I thought that the flooding was only in certain suburbs of the city but then someone told me today that the schools in the neighborhood next to mine were closed due to flodding since Wednesday.  I read today that the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay were closing doors because they needed to get their valuable pieces out of the basement before flooding destroyed them. Even certain RER trains have to close due to the flood and it's making it even more difficult to get around because the SNCF (the train company in charge of most of these trains) has decided to go on strike indefinetly due to the proposed labour law and the upcoming European Soccer Cup.

So, if your a tourist or an expat like us, you're screwed, you literally have to stay put. At my house, we've been having fun making lines with tape on the floor and doing different activities or preparing different treats for the upcoming Ramadan season.

If you are planning a trip to Paris soon, the weather forecast says to expect more rain, so, don't forget your umbrella and rain coat.

It's hard to get around Paris or rather France recently

Today is the 6th day of a rail/transport strike. And let me tell you it has been a pain in the neck for my husband who takes the train to work everyday. Often he has an 1hour 30minute commute which is doubled or tripled when there is a strike. Take a can of sardines or tuna and imagine you are in the can, that's what it feels like to be in a train when they're on strike. So pregnant women, the elderly, tourists going to the airport or babies in strollers should not attempt to take the train during the strike, because people will literally push and shove to get a spot on the train. Sometimes blocking the doors to close, people think that a 1cm spot is big enough for them! It's not a fun adventure in Paris or other cities for that matter.

This weekend to make matters worse, there were only two trains every hour going in the direction of the airport CDG and the south of Paris on RER B!!

Why are they striking ?

 Over government plans to bring the SNCF rail operator and the RFF network under the roof of one holding company, while keeping their operations separate.They fear the proposals will hurt working conditions and want SNCF and RFF fully merged into a single company as they were before 1997.They also want the government to take on some 40 billion euros ($54.5 billion) in debt owed by the two firms.The government says the reform is needed to create a coherent structure for the railways as France and other European countries gear up for full liberalisation of the railways in coming years. (france24.com)

Ok it's a good thing that these people are striking for their retirement and jobs but its not good that it is causing people like my husband to lose work time and pay due to the strike.  And also according to a video that I saw, the union said they would take their time to respond to the government because the government has been taking it's time.

So the question is, how long will the strike keep going ?