Watching the news over the last few days and seeing the demonstrations over the pension reform going along with other strikes I was wondering how tour, Paris and the Heart of France maybe impacted. Not sure if there are any tours going right now that might be able to provide some insight on how their tours are going?
Thanks!
I have no first hand, on the ground experience in Paris during strikes and demonstrations. I have visited other major cities during such events and my experience there is that the actual events are limited in geographic scope and most people can avoid them and go on with life.
I’m guessing that may be the case here, but it would be good to hear from someone currently in Paris.
I am on the April 11th tour. So I am hoping some of may be over. Will see if the no confidence vote is successful on Monday.
Years ago there was some sort of strike where the trash wasn't picked up. Fortunately, I purchased an odor mask filter as the smell was horrendous.
The excellent thing is that your RS guide will be able to ....guide .... you thru this!
I've done this tour and the Best of Paris tour and learned so much from my guides on how to manage myself in Paris. This will be a learning experience for you! The guides usually work with each other as well, communicating important info back and forth.
I assume since you are less than a month out that you've got your tour roster. Who's your guide?
BTW, this is an excellent tour.
I had the pleasure of "Best of Paris" 12-18 Feb 2023. Seeing reports (TV--France 24) about the current March '23 strike amaze me as I picture the locations I visited with the group and, moreover, on my own.
French authorities estimate 10,000 tons of trash remain uncollected--this contrasts with my particular appreciation of how clean Paris was during my visit. The Place de la Concorde was virtually empty and essentially my own as I walked alone around it. Seeing the French 24 TV scenes of 1000's of protesters, the trash fires, the tear gas smoke, the police actions there are disturbing in contrast to my experience.
*Right now I cannot imagine how my Best of and my personal experience would have been different had the protests/trash been there last month. The strikes are real and the trash is more than a simple mask can avoid. ab
AlanBush, the tour guides know how to avoid the trash.
We’ll be there independently , staying in the 6th, and assume our hotel will offer advice for dealing with it if necessary.
A bit of an aside, but those who have seen "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris" will recall a previous strike by sanitation workers in the film. I remember a fun line from the film where a gentleman explains to Mrs. Harris, "You need to know, in France, the worker is King."
