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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Paris Chocolate Stops - A short List!

Here are some cool stories/tips and info I picked up on recently. If you are heading to Paris over the holidays, have a wonderful time! There is nothing like Paris at any time of year, but at Christmas; it is even more beautiful!

From the New York Times: Le Tour de Chocolat
Suffice it to say; this is about some of the best locations for that rich, dark stuff! Read the story for the full entertainment value; or check out the list of suggested stops I pulled from it below to which I add the nearest metro stop. You will also note that these suggestions have mulitiple store locations, not just the one shown. And, some of them are in New York and other foreign places. So, while good, they are not only a 1 stop tiny boutique! Note, the story is also about using the Velo Libre or Velibe (www.velib.paris.fr) which is a great success story. Word we get is that it is so successful it is very hard to find a bike. Maybe in winter it is easier as weather makes it less convenient; but just keep that in mind; and refer to the metro stop.

Michel Cluizel (201, rue St.-Honoré; 33-1-42-44-11-66; www.chocolatmichelcluizel-na.com) Metro Tuileries; line 1.

Jean-Paul Hévin (231, rue St-Honoré, (33-1-55-35-35-96; www.jphevin.com) Metro Tuileries; line 1

Patrick Roger (45, avenue Victor Hugo; 33-1-45-01-66-71; www.patrickroger.com) Metro Kleber, line 6

Michel Chaudun (149, rue de l’Université, 33-1-47-53-74-40) Metro: Invalides (lines 8, 13) or RER Pont d'Alma (line c)

Jean-Charles Rochoux (16, rue d’Assas, 33-1-42-84-29-45; www.jcrochoux.fr) Metro: Rennes Line 4

Christian Constant (37, rue d’Assas, 33-1-53-63-15-15) Metro: St Placide or Rennes Line 4

Pierre Marcolini (89, rue de Seine, 33-1-4407-3907; www.marcolini.be) Metro: Odeon; lines 4 and 10.

Pierre Hermé’s slim boutique (72, rue Bonaparte, 33-1-43-54-47-77; www.pierreherme.com)
several locations. This one is between St Germain des Pres and St Sulpice; Line 4.

Discover France & GoToParis have Moved!

We are pleased to announce we have completed an office move that now gives us a better working environment and better technology! Though we only moved to buildings to the west on our street in Scottsdale, Arizona; we now have higher speed internet service that allows us to power more of our operations including new VOIP phones. For customers who prefer to call in orders or need to either check on or add to their orders, you can call the same numbers but be routed directly to the person you need. Just to recap, our contact info below:

Discover France (USA Office)
8502 E. Via de Ventura #221
Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480-905-1235
800-960-2221



Order online for Paris at www.gotoparis.net or www.hotelsparis.net and always www.discoverfrance.com which does have also a new logo and site design!

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