As travelers, keeping an eye on political problems, especially uprisings and strikes, as well as weather and natural disasters, have contributed to our decisions about where, when, and how to travel. The political unrest in France began with demonstrations on September 7th, before our arrival in Paris. Demonstrators continued to put pressure on the government sporadically during September and October, with strikes and demonstrations happening all over France. By October 19th, it was estimated that as many as 17.7 million people, in total, had joined the protest against the age hike on retirement under the French socialist system of government. Nicholas Sarkozy, President of France, proposed this age-hike to cut the costs of the national retirement age of 60. The reasoning, an aging population and fewer young French citizens employed and available to foot the bill. This unhappy news effected nearly everyone, and caused rancor amongst the citizenry. About 300 striking workers staged a protest a France’s main airport, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle in Paris, blocking access to the main terminal building. Reports noted that the protestors sang the national anthem before pushing through a police barricade and marching through the building blowing whistles and waving flags. The situation became more and more serious, and eventually, demonstrators set up blockades to fuel depots in the South, while masked youths clashed with the police in Nanterre and Paris students gathered outside the Senate. A fuel shortage developed in France, with about 25% of the gasoline filling stations out of gas and closed. Henry and I therefore decided not to travel around the country by automobile, but to choose a nice place  or two to be and stay put. We chose two places: Lyon and Annecy in the Rhône-Alpes and the Haute Savoire respectively, moving from one to the other using a hired car and driver. Needless to say, Henry and I were both surprised when, in Annecy, with the date drawing near for the Senate vote on the new government reforms, we happened upon a protest. Demonstrators showed up on the streets of Annecy to be seen and heard. This was a serious affair, yet the French made it look almost like a picnic. Couples looked as if they were on a date, friends of both genders seemed to enjoy the chance to have an outing together, and vendors rolled carts alongside the demonstrators, just in case someone needed to buy water or refreshments. Sometimes the demonstration became a family affair, with children and adults using the lids of cooking pots as cymbals. Other noise makers included plastic whistles, tambourines, drums, and microphones blasting a protest message. The flags carried were mostly manufactured, stating the organizations rather than the cause, and the crowds were friendly, calm, and orderly, out doing their job by just showing up in numbers to at least be counted.

PHOTOS: Left Column: 1. A protest sign making light of Sarkozy, the President of France, and the proposed elevation of the age of retirement under the socialist system of government in France. Hence, the older guy has a different opinion than the middle aged or youth might have toward adjusting the retirement age upward. The aging population is increasing the burden on the government, hence the need for adjustment. 2. Two protestors walk and talk, flags comfortably balanced on their shoulders. 3. Bring on the noise. This group of protestors used drums, tambourines, and whistles to make their presence heard. Center, Top: Protestors on the move, colorful flags identifying their group.  Center, Bottom: Protestors fill one of the city squares, making their presence  and their opinions about the planned retirement age adjustment known.

JOURDAN ARPELLE-ZIEGLER                                        BACK TO MAP  PAGE