Les Greves and Manifestations

Another day in la belle France. A day of strikes (greves), demonstrations (manifestations), riot police, and arrests. In case you haven't heard, today was an all nation strike in France. Post office, teachers, newspapers, radios, public transport, air traffic controllers, tourist offices, etc were all closed today. Even the Eiffel Tower was closed! The workers went on strike to support the student/youth strike against the new CPE law. See more on the day's events here. To the left, a pic of the demonstrations in downtown Marseille, from the same CBC News website.
I wanted to listen to the news on RFI, one of the French internet stations, and got "we're sorry for the interruption in regularly scheduled broadcasting, please enjoy this musical selection in its place". So much for up to date news on the strikes and riots. Humph!
But I did get to see the evening news from home. Between 1 million and 3 million (yes MILLION) took to the streets today all over France. There were about 250 000 in Marseille alone. And silly me, this morning thought "Wouldn't it be exciting to go downtown today and be part of the demonstrations, just to see what goes on." Sure glad my common sense kicked in. From what I saw on TV, Mareille's demonstrations were relatively calm but as the sun sets now, I'm sure the police are getting ready for "les casseurs" (the breakers, or punks as I call them). They are the trouble makers, just waiting for an excuse to burn or break something, or to beat someone up. They're giving the youth protestors a bad image and causing a lot of damage.
Universities and high schools across the country remain closed. Classes are cancelled and many worry about preparing for their final exams. Unfortunately for those students, and those that agree with the CPE law, there is no choice to go back, until this is settled. And who knows when that will be.
I never realized how important protesting, striking, demonstrating is to the French people. It's a complete opposite from most Canadians' laid back, "politically correct" lifestyle. It's good to see so many people coming together for one cause, to support its youth, the next generation. It's too bad though that it had to come to this. That it seems to be beyond the peaceful talk stage. Change doesn't seem to come easily to France, especially when it comes to job security!

This Week in Review

I know its neither the beginning nor the end of the week yet I feel a week in review is in order. Here are some of the highlights (or lowlights in some cases).
*my kitchen was invaded by small white crawling worms, all over my ceiling, in my cupboards (and my dried food, flours, etc). Who knew France would win the "where I found the grossest bug" contest?! My kitchen has been sprayed, bleached, aired out and put back together. Sadly, I had to throw out all flours, crackers, pudding mixes and (sigh) chocolate. No live worms for a few days. Here's hoping the war is over.
*the university and high school students all over France are protesting and rioting over a new law that was passed about hiring and firing young employees. It's getting a bit crazy, one demonstrator is in hospital in a coma. Cars and buses set on fire. Universities getting broken into and defaced. Now there is talk of other organizations and unions getting involved to back the students, to make the prime-minister revoke or change the law. More info here on BBC.
*made a bunch of homemade cards with a girlfriend. She's going to use them as thank you gifts this summer.
*ate a huge lunch to help another friend celebrate her birthday. The meal was cooked by a Moroccan lady, so it was real Moroccan tagine (stew) of lamb, almonds, prunes with fresh bread. Yum Yum!
*cleaned house and made beds for 2 guests staying the weekend with me. And cooked a huge roaster of chicken stew for a group of people at the office attending a conference. The stew passes inspection because I had a bowl for supper. Just call me Martha (as in Martha Stewart.)
*listening to the audio book "Eragon" by Christopher Paolini. Great adventure filled with dragons, battles, elves, and intrigue. Can't believe it was written by a teenager. Has a Lord of the Rings feel to it. Just found out it's actually the first in a trilogy. Just like LOR. Hmm. I LOVE audio books, I've been able to clean my kitchen, kill bugs, and dust my living room, all at the same time flying with dragons, fighting evil, and sword fighting. How cool. Multitasking at its best.

Snug as a bug in a rug

Yet another photo of the cutest great-nephew on the world wide web! And no, that it NOT a wig he is wearing.

No More Wind

Le mistral is finally over. I couldn't figure out what was wrong when I woke up yesterday morning, then I realized it was because I couldn't hear the roaring of the wind. What a relief! My ears were actually ringing most of the afternoon because of the lack of noise. I read the local Marseille paper at lunch time, they had some pictures of the port and the damage the winds caused. The waves were coming up 10 feet, sections of the coastline were closed to the public. There was also a picture of 4 grown men, bent over, linking arms trying to walk together against the wind, which was gusting up to 120 km/hour. Didn't look like they were doing so well. And a young woman (urged on by the photographer) gripped a sign post with both hands and then kicked her feet up to see if she could "fly". She could. She couldn't get her feet back down on the ground. The photographer had to rescue her as she hung on to the sign post and her legs continued to blow in the wind. But my favourite picture, a guy going swimming. Freezing water, churning madly, 10 feet waves and spray, and he's going for a dip?! Some people just take it too far. The plus side to all the wind is that the sky has never been bluer, no pollution or smoke hanging over the city (for now). But there's lots of garbage and broken trees, etc in the streets. Can't wait for the next visit of le mistral!

Look What the Wind Blew In

So le mistral continues today...the roaring wind has given me a headache and almost made me fall over on my way over to a friends' apartment. The port is closed due to the rough seas so no boats or ferries can dock to load/unload. One of my coworkers was on his way out of the house with his 5 year old son and the wind ripped his eyeglasses right off his face. He couldn't find them after looking for 40 minutes, they're probably flying over the Mediteranean right now. He decided to send his son back inside for fear of losing him as well. The wind has died down a bit, my headache has subsided...but it's forecast to continue tomorrow. Can't wait to walk to work in it. According to www.wunderground.com, the max wind gust yesterday was 109 km/hr. Time to go fly me a kite.

Le Mistral

I sit at home, smelling the scent of my cake baking and hearing the ROAR of "le mistral" (mee-strahl) outside. I had to go out to do some errands this morning and literally thought I was going to be knocked off my feet by the wind. It's fierce! And cold. Even though it is about 14C above and bright sunlight streaming down, it feels cold once that wind gusts. Mind you, when it gusts you're not thinking so much about how cold it is, I was thinking about not getting blown into oncoming traffic. I knew before I left the house that it was going to be nasty, could tell by the sound of the wind, the sight of the trees bending over, and everyone walking by in winter coats with hoods up. So my last post about signs of spring...maybe just got my hopes up a bit. : ) Although the almond, apple, cherry and mimosa trees are all blooming, there are tulips in the flower shops (sorry, Beth!) and the grass is green...it's far from sunbathing weather. Yet. I'm used to good ol' Prairie blizzards, in the dead of winter with their fierce cold winds. But this is just foreign to me, I need some drifting snow banks and concerned weather reporters talking about windchill factor. Not a good day to go fly a kite...you might find yourself taking off with it.
This wind originates in the northeast Rhone valley, sweeps south into Provence (and thus Marseille) blowing all the way out into the Sea. And that's where it can stay as far as I'm concerned. It's the 5th day of le mistral this week. I've heard stories of people going "mad" because of this wind. I can understand why. Not that you would notice if that happened to me, right?

Signs of Spring

Today on my walk to work:
I heard spring song birds.
I smelt fresh green grass being mowed.
I felt the warm sun and cool breeze.
I saw a group of young school kids planting trees in the park (school trip--kinda scary/funny to see 6 years olds with shovels and pick axes. They were well supervised but it looked like a miniature chain gang.)
I didn't taste anything, except maybe some dust and dried leaves blown around by the wind.

Canada's Bid At World Domination

Yep, you think Canadians are all about hockey, snow and "eh". Well, we're also about Tim Horton's coffee and doughnuts. I'm wondering what it would take to get one set up in my corner of the world. Maybe I should start petitioning the Tim Horton's headquarters...and then we'll slowly take over the world, infiltrating every nation with our Tim Horton's timbits, iced fraps, and sourdough bread sandwiches...WORLD DOMINATION!
What I'd give for an iced cap and some chocolate timbits right now...

The following is a news item posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE at http://www.cbc.ca/news
TIM HORTONS TO OPEN IN KANDAHAR
WebPosted Wed Mar 8 17:50:56 2006---
Tim Hortons officials say they will open a store at the Kandaharmilitary airfield in Afghanistan within the next few months.Canadian soldiers have reportedly been lobbying for weeks for the move. Their requests were passed on to Chief of Defence Staff Gen. RickHillier, who passed the message on to the company. In a news release issued Wednesday, Tim Hortons says it will convert a trailer and deliver it to the Canadian Forces for use in Afghanistan. Military personnel will be able to purchase selected baked goods and beverages, including coffee. The Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency, the morale and welfare arm of the Canadian Forces, will be responsible for staffing and training, and also for operation of the trailer.
"I know I speak for all the men and women of the Canadian Forces when I say that I'm delighted to hear this news," Gen. Hillier said in the news release."
Opening a Tim Hortons to serve our troops in Afghanistan strengthens an already superb relationship between two great Canadian institutions. Iwould like to thank Tim Hortons for their endless support of the Canadian Forces over the years."
Former police officer Ron Joyce co-founded the famous chain in Hamiltonin 1964 with the late NHL hockey player, Tim Horton. In 1995, Tim Hortons merged with U.S.-based Wendy's International and isnow a wholly-owned subsidiary of the fast-food burger chain.
Copyright (C) 2006 CBC. All rights reserved.

Pics of Geneva

Drawing from the Reformation movement, showing the "weight" of the Bible should be heavier than priests, traditions, or man-made rules. These and other controversial drawings appeared as posters or in newspapers to help spread the Reformer's cause.
Father's of Reformation: John Calvin and Martin Luther. Both pictures are from the Reformation museum.
Waterfront just outside of Geneva from the ferry.
Le font, returning to Geneva on the ferry. 

Pics from Geneva

Le Font, at the waterfront of Lake Geneva (Lac Leman).
Side street of Geneva, with the Swiss flag and Genevan flag (red and yellow).
Ancient baptistry from the 3rd century, under Calvin's church.
Below: stained glass in Calvin's church. 

Kaylo's Crib

Here's my favourite great-nephew, hanging out in his crib. Great-aunties have the right to bombard their blog viewers with multiple pictures of their great-nephew/nieces. I haven't received my "How To Be a Great Great-Auntie" handbook yet, but I'm sure that rule is in there somewhere. Along with the right to give the kids sugar, noisy toys, and let them stay up past their bedtime. Someone's gotta spoil them!  

Random Moments With Jen Again

On my walk home from work, I passed a couple that were putting on ski pants. In the middle of the city, the sun shining brilliantly, they were putting on ski pants and getting into their car, to go where, I don't know. But the funniest thing was that they were matching, lilac coloured. Men and Women's matching lilac coloured ski pants in an urban center, literally hours away from the nearest snow bank, let alone ski hill. I would have asked them where they were going if I wasn't too busy not trying to choke back from laughing out loud like a fool. Another random moment with Jen, brought to you by a couple wearing lilac ski pants. Hopefully by now, they've found their snow.

Let it snow

Alright, so this wouldn't be news if I was in Canada. But it "snowed" last week in Marseille. Actually it was more like sleet and hail but the end result was white stuff on the ground for at least a half hour (before the sun melted it). Picture worthy, I thought. Both are taken from my balconies. Enjoy! I hear the last time it "really" snowed in Marseille was about 10 years ago. A few centimeters stopped traffic, causing people to abondon their vehicles (even city buses) and the city was at a stand still for 24 hours, until the snow was cleared and/or melted.
Ironcially, I'm missing one of the most mild winters on record back home, with little snow and few cold snaps. Humph! Not fair!