Strikes in France January 29

PARIS (AFP) — International and domestic air and rail travel will be severely disrupted in France on Thursday due to a nationwide strike to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's government, officials warned.

Airlines will have to cancel 30 percent of their flights departing and arriving at Paris's Orly airport and 10 percent of flights from the main Roissy hub, aviation officials said.

The SNCF state rail company said only 60 percent of TGV high-speed trains would run and warned of even greater disruption on regional trains. It predicted just 35-50 percent of its Lyria high-speed service to Switzerland.

But Eurostar trains to London and Thalys trains to Germany and the Netherlands will not be affected, it said.

Metro and overland train services will also be badly disrupted, the RATP transport authority said, but buses and trams were expected to run normally.

French workers, spooked by the global crisis and fearful for their jobs, are preparing their biggest one-day strike since Sarkozy took office in 2007.

GOOD Airfare Sale to Paris

From LAX on Air Tahiti Nui; from $789*

So, for Americans only and in the Los Angeles area. Its worth passing on; and don't forget to read the microscopic print associated with *

http://www.airtahitinui-usa.com/atnspecial/atnspecial.asp?id=1259

Free Admission Policy Change For Museums

Soon to be free to all persons Under 25 are all the French National Monuments and Museums which does include the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Currently, the freebie is good to age 18, but in a recent speak French President Sarkozy said the measure will go into effect on April 4 this year. This story appeared on MSNBC and no further info is available.

This will have a big impact on visitors to Paris mostly, but of course applies to "National" monuments and museums throughout France. For a list of sites, see www.monum.fr

Heading to Paris - Bring the Overcoat!

Weather in Paris and across France and Europe continues to wreak havoc this week:

The French weather service called it "the coldest night of winter" so far with temperatures ranging for minus nine degrees Celsius in Paris -- the coldest since 1997 -- and minus 20 degrees Celsius in the northern Ardennes region.

The rare sight of snow was seen in the southern Mediterranean port of Marseille, closing the local airport and leaving some 12,000 households in the region without electricity.

Demand for power for heating has soared and raised the risk of power cuts, especially in Brittany and the southeast.

Heavy snow has forced the closing of the mountainous French-Italian border since Tuesday night.

UPDATE: Pictures of snow in Marseille and Aix en Provence. VERY rare:
http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2009/01/09/01016-20090109DIAWWW00443-vague-de-froid-vos-plus-belles-photos.php

Snow In Paris

Snow - yes - that white stuff - is very rare in Paris. Therefore, no wonder the Roissy Charles de Gaulle airport was shut down on Monday!

"1,658 people will be accommodated by Air France Monday evening in hotels at the airport hub at Roissy after the cancellation of 120 Air France flights of the 400 scheduled since the beginning of Monday afternoon, mainly to European destinations but also some long haul services," the airline said.

Traffic was back on track Tuesday, but the website Aeroports de Paris www.adp.fr was not discounting future disruptions but advised checking with the individual airline company.

Other disruptions including traffic/truck access in and out of Paris as well. Low, cold temperatures are forecast through the week. Check this site for official weather info: www.meteo.fr

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