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Published: October 20th 2010
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A strike in France can put a damper on one's plans. The strike is mostly affecting the national fuel supply and the delivery system. Therefore, there is very little fuel at the gas stations. It is only a good idea to conserve in order to be sure to make it out of France at the end of the week. Yesterday, we were able to fill up and decided to visit the D-day Beaches. As we drove on the freeway, we saw the smoke from strikers burning tires in Caen and the 45+ minute lines to buy fuel at the few stations that still had some petrol.
Gary remembers that his late brother Frank was in Paris during 1968 when there were student protests and national strikes that lead to the fall of the DeGaulle government. The current situation is over the proposed raising of the retirement age from 60 to 62 years. How we wish!! Tomorrow is a vote in their legislature. We will have to see what the vote will bring and if the truckers and the fuel supplies get back to normal.
Our plan to visit Mount St. Michel has definitely been put on a back burner
since it is a 2 ½ hour drive one-way. We are lucky that the time-share has several TV stations that broadcast in English. There are beautiful swans floating in the river beside the resort. It is so peaceful to look out our window at such a setting.
The time-share is in an village off the beaten path south of Rouen. There are very few restaurants in the area so we decided to go out and do some grocery shopping today. We had found a store about 15 miles from here on Saturday. Today we went back - the police had the road blocked and said the grocery store was closed. Needless to say, we needed to find something else. I noticed that most of the businesses were also closed - empty parking lots. As we drove down the road to another village we noticed a small family run grocery/butcher (superette/boucherie). We bought provisions for the rest of the week. We'll be cooking in and enjoying the rural setting and some walks. Fortunately, the whole trip was less than 20 miles. One note about buying wine in the stores... The local bottles of both red and white run about 2,50€
($3.50). This is almost the cost of two bottles of soda.
Tomorrow we have reservations for dinner at a very well known restaurant next door (Les Connelles). It will be our one splurge for this week.
The take away sandwiches we have enjoyed throughout France has truly caught our imagination. They use a simple french baquette with a few slices of tomato, cheese and meat. One variety is tomato, fresh mozzarella, fresh basil and a drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Another is gouda cheese and thinly sliced ham with a couple of thin slices of tomato and a hint of Dijon mustard. We will taking this tradition back home.
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paul lapage
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strike-tradition
We've seen the strike on the news. They pointed out that the majority of the strikers were in their 20's and 30's, and therefore would not be retiring for a couple of decades. But they were very theatrical and enthusiastic as if it was going to affect them right away. They also pointed out, like you said, from 60 to 62! Even at the new advanced age, it will still be the earliest retirement age in Europe, and earlier than USA. We hope you take careful notes on the sandwich makins'. You painted a pretty delicious picture. Do they still sell the french bread in long skinny loaves wrapped only in the middle with a little piece of paper? How is your Kangoo working out? Does it have yellow headlights? Any other uniquely un-American characteristics?