Celebrate la victoire in your PSG 'undies'
Paris Saint Germain wins its
7th French Cup. Bravo! But, I can't believe it took
5,000 police to keep dueling spectators in control during the finale. Is this the same mild-mannered club that offers its fans a selection of
lingerie bearing the team logo? Perhaps if more people in the crowd were wearing official club
lingerie under their clothes there would have been less fighting and more harmony at
Stade de France.
Ladies can buy a
PSG sac, men can buy
PSG boxers, and students might like a
PSG cartable...if they don't attend school in Marsailles. All this, and more, can be yours at the official
PSG online store or at a
local shop.
'Barefoot in Paris' author Ina Garten has a new project
Ina Garten can do no wrong in my book. I have no basis for saying this, other than I enjoy her cookbooks and cooking show - and she has an apartment in the 7th arrondissement. A while back, I posted an
entry about her book,
Barefoot in Paris (2004), which rose to No. 11 on The New York Times bestseller list.
This year Ina launched a
product line with one of my favorite stores,
Stonewall Kitchen of Maine. I only hope her side business won't detract from her cooking show. Some day I'll tell her, when I see her at the market in Paris.
Shakespeare & Company: 'Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise'
"I may disappear leaving behind me no worldly possessions - just a few old socks and love letters, and my windows overlooking Notre-Dame for all of you to enjoy, and my little rag and bone shop of the heart whose motto is "Be not inhospitable to strangers lest they be angels in disguise". I may disappear leaving no forwarding address, but for all you know I may still be walking among you on my vagabond journey around the world." -- George Whitman,
Shakespeare & Co. (photo: R. Keith)In June, a festival "focusing on travel writing, will take place under a tent in the Réné Viviani park next to Shakespeare and Company. /
Chez Thompson offers a blog post about spring, pancakes and Shakespeare & Company. / Sab Will promises a fantastic interview with Sylvia Whitman, "who now runs the legendary Left Bank bookshop."
Tom Cruise: Mister Impossible feeds the press in Paris ----- Monsieur Impossible alimente le presse -----
For a brief time Tom Cruise's sister, Lee Ann, served as his public relations advisor. She
may or
may not have been adequate for the job, but there is no way she could have achieved anything close to the crafty strategy that was employed for Cruise's visit to Paris on April 27.
In the morning, Cruise (a.k.a. Thomas C. Mapother IV) didn't show up for the press conference for
Mission Impossible 3. He's one of the few dudes who can make more headlines by not appearing at a press event than by actually showing up.
Why did he skip out? According to his handlers he needed to purchase some outfits for his new baby, Suri, and visit Paris with his two older children. Tom Cruise shopping for baby clothes? Where's that gaggle of assistants when needed? (I wonder if Suri is getting one of those ubiquitous "J'aime Paris"
t-shirts.)
Here's how Cruise made news in only a few hours:"Some 60 employees at the Ritz Hotel in Paris went on strike Tuesday, the day before the upmarket establishment was to host a publicity media conference by Tom Cruise. The Workers' Force union said in a statement that the employees walked off the job to protest changes to their contracts by management. The management of the hotel confirmed the strike but said it was not affecting service to its guests. Cruise was due to speak to reporters in a salon in the hotel on Wednesday..." -- The Tocqueville Connection. "...Cruise left dozens of camera teams, reporters and photographers waiting in vain for him on Wednesday at Paris' Ritz hotel, where he was supposed to give a press conference.'" -- Reuters."'Tom has decided to visit Paris with his two children (instead),' a spokeswoman said, referring to 13-year-old Isabella and 11-year-old Connor." -- Reuters"Hours later, the 43-year-old actor arrived by helicopter at La Defense, the sleek high-rise complex on the western edge of Paris, where thousands of fans massed Wednesday ahead of a red carpet showing of his new film. Cruise treated them to autographs." -- Associated Press"His fiancee, Katie Holmes, and their week-old daughter, Suri, stayed home in Los Angeles while Cruise was in Europe this week" -- Associated PressReturn to the beginning of this blogSuri, Cinema, Paris, Tom Cruise, Mission Impossible 3, 40 Days in Paris
Cruise launches Ciné Cité in Paris with screening of Mission Impossible 3
Photo by Eric/Paris Daily PhotoTom Cruise visited Paris today to open his film
Mission Impossible 3 at the sparkling new
UGC Ciné Cité la Défense, a 16 room cinema complex with a total of 3700 seats. On hand to greet his arrival were thousands of fans and members of the press. To welcome Cruise, who was shuttled to the area by helicopter, an extensive red carpet was unfurled and barricades helped preserve order. The MI3 star stopped to chat with the crowd as he often does. He's been known to take command of fans' cell phones and speak with their disbelieving friends or mothers on the other end.
Eric, a well-known photoblogger from
The Paris Blog and
Paris Daily Photo, snapped an excellent photo (above) of Cruise working the crowd.
Return to the beginning of this blogUGC Ciné Cité, Cinema, Paris, Tom Cruise, Mission Impossible 3, The Paris Blog
Musée de la Mode: 300 outfits - and still nothing to wear
This is your last chance to see
L'Homme Paré, an exhibit that's been hosted at Musée de la Mode et du Textile since October. The collection includes 300 period costumes ranging from the 17th century to modern times. It highlights the changes and commonalities in men's fashions through the years. I don't think we ought to resort to a "what's hot" and "what's not" list, like they do on television during award shows, but you'll be amazed by the expansive collection.
If you'd like a preview, visit this multimedia
presentation that offers a sneak peek at L'Homme Paré. If you'd prefer, a PDF
brochure can give you all of the Musée's "information practique."
Musée de la Mode et du Textile107, rue de Rivoli
75001 Paris
Tél: 01 44 55 57 50
MORE INFO:
The museum is open from 11h00 to 18h00 during the week and opens an hour earlier on the weekend. Your metro choices are Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre, Tuileries, Pyramides. Your bus choices include numbers 21, 27, 39, 48, 68, 72, 81, or 95. If you want to arrive with tickets in hand, you can pre-purchase through FNAC for 7,50, 6,00, or 4,50 €.
Villepin: un "nouveau pacte"
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is trying to repair his reputation in the academic world. On Tuesday he visited the Sorbonne and announced a plan that would financially benefit students for three months after they graduate from university. His appearance at the university prompted a protest demonstration by dozens of students.
Dominique de Villepin a appelé de ses vœux, mardi 25 avril, un "nouveau pacte" entre l'université et les Français avec l'ambition de donner aux facultés "les moyens de préparer les jeunes à l'emploi". Inaugurant à la Sorbonne le siège de la commission du débat national "université-emploi", le premier ministre a également proposé que les étudiants puissent continuer à bénéficier de leur bourse "pendant trois mois" après l'obtention de leur diplôme. -- Le Monde (photo: AFP)
Passerrelle Debilly
Jardin du Lux: promenades à dos de poneys
I’ve been called a “shoegazer.” That is, someone who dwells on things unnecessarily. To me, fun things are not always fun.
The ponies on which children ride across the
Jardin du Luxembourg seem to share my philosophy. You’d think they’d be having the time of their lives. As far as equine employment goes a slow and quiet life in Le Sixième, ambling across the Lux and getting your picture taken, is not a bad gig. But, the ponies (and especially the donkeys) appear to be under-whelmed with their life’s mission. Their handlers are rather sedate also. On a warm day, they look particularly miserable. The kids look non-plussed, but are probably having a little fun. Now and again you might see one of them crying or wanting off the animal -- further proof that fun sometimes eludes us.
These situations make me feel better about not being a “fun-seeker.” Most magical moments are beyond our control. They materialize when life’s elements align in our favor, and when we're not trying too hard.
Twenty five percent of French people smoke; compared to twenty three percent of Americans
People in the United States often ask about the level of foreignness of our foreign friends, The French. Longstanding stereotypes are tightly held, almost cherished. We love our illusions, do we not? When these questions come up, I gladly answer them.
But, after I attempt to dispel the most ridiculous of stereotypes, the questioners get suspicous of me, as if to say "Gee whiz! Those chain-smoking, smelly, rude frogs have really brain-washed him."
One stereotype that even I believed until 2005 is --- "all French people smoke." It seems to be true, but the numbers don't support the myth. Nonetheless, smokers are accommodated everywhere in Paris...with few exceptions. Often, when I've asked for a non-smoking table at a restaurant, the waiter has simply removed the ashtray, motioned for me to sit down and presented the menu. Voila! Then he turns around and disappears into a cloud of smoke.
A recent survey revealed that a majority of French people would prefer to dine in a smoke-free environment. I don't know if that speaks to their distaste for cigarette smoke or if it illustrates the fact that, in France, cuisine trumps tobacco on the hierarchy of desire. If you are one of these aesthetes and would like to dine without getting lung cancer, you should visit
Paris Non Fumeur to find smoke-free establishments.
"Surveys show a large majority of French people would like smoke-free restaurants. Since 1992, some bars and restaurants have been required to have clearly identified nonsmoking areas, but in practice the areas are often nonexistent or hard to spot." Full article (IHT/Reuters)
Happy Birthday Joan Miró
If you notice a rather decorative display on the french Google site today, it's because of Joan Miró's birthday. Don't be alarmed. Google Corp. hasn't purchased all of Miró's work and permanently adopted a Miroesque logo. Although, I guess we've all seen those Monet umbrellas and mouse pads, so anything is possible.
A blurb from Wikipedia:As a young man, Miró was drawn towards the arts community that was gathering in Montparnasse and in 1920 moved to Paris. There, under the influence of Surrealist poets and writers, he developed his unique style: organic forms and flattened picture planes drawn with a sharp line. Miró confessed to creating one of his most famous works, Harlequin's Carnival, while hallucinating due to a lack of food. Today, his paintings sell at prices between US $250,000 and US $8 million.
(born 20 April 1893 in Barcelona, died 25 December 1983 in Mallorca)
Who will be the 10,000th visitor to 40 Days in Paris?
Congratulations, in advance, to visitor number 10,000! "40 Days in Paris" is almost a year old and, frankly, I'm surprised that people are compelled to visit and read. Visitors have checked in from a couple dozen countries, some of them rather obscure -- and from every continent except Antartica. Antarticans don't read blogs? What's up with THAT?
If you'd like to give me a gift on this quasi-auspicious occasion, have all of your Antartican friends click on my blog a few times. This will fill the geographical void in my blogsphere and help me sleep at night.
I don't get too many details on my stats report, but if I can determine the location of "Monsieur/Madame 10,000" I will post it later, for trivia's sake.
I don't actually believe that everyone who registers a "click" has intentionally landed here. The popularity of Paris factors into this site's clickability -- and the wayward surfers looking for Paris Hilton pictures account for more than a few accidental visitors. Still, the counter is good entertainment and it's interesting to see the data.
Wheelchairs in Paris? Good luck with that!
There are a number of wheelchair-friendly tourist attractions in Paris, but fewer than in other international cities.
This question appeared on the San Jose Mercury News Web site:Question: Is there anywhere in Paris to rent a wheelchair for a parent who is unable to walk long distances?
Answer: The French Government Tourist Office told us that some pharmacies in the Paris area rent wheelchairs. Try Pharmacie Thoraval, 264 Boulevard Voltaire. You can send e-mail to pharmacie.thoraval@wanadoo.fr or call 011-33-1-43-73-51-73 to reserve one before your arrival.
Return to the beginning of this blogtourist, France, Paris, travel guides, 40 Days in Paris
Passeport électronique en France
«Ce jeudi 13 avril, nous débutons le déploiement du passeport électronique en France, en commençant par les Hauts-de-Seine», indique un porte-parole de l'imprimerie nationale à ZDNet.fr. Cette nouvelle génération de passeport permettra, notamment, d'entrer sur le sol américain sans visa. Dès le 19 avril, ce sera au tour de la préfecture de Paris de les délivrer. L'ensemble de l'hexagone devrait être fourni fin juin. (ZDnet France)
Vincent van Gogh: 'what you tried to say to me'
Vincent van Gogh
click above to start a slide show with classic music by Don McLean
Paris St Germain soccer club sold by Vivendi's Canal Plus
From AFX News Limited:
Vivendi Universal unit Canal Plus said it has agreed to sell French premier league soccer club Paris St. Germain, in which it holds 100 pct, to a consortium of investment funds. No financial details were disclosed in Canal Plus' statement. The three buyers are private equity group Butler Capital Partners, Morgan Stanley and Colyzeo.
Air France to allow in-flight mobile phoning, texting, e-mail, etc.
The family of four stretching across Row No. 21 is fighting amongst themselves. Their baby demonstrates its lung capacity by crying for 30-minutes solid. The teenagers in Row No. 20 are speaking a language that sounds like your own, but is fast and mumbled -- completely unintelligible. The topic seems to be about things that totally "suck." The salesman in Row No. 19 wants to know if the passenger next to him plays golf, then launches into a 90-minute review of the nation's golf courses. He can be heard at the back of the plane, in the bathroom...with the door closed. His neighbor seems uninterested, but the conversation is about HIM, so it persists. Noises from nearly every row echo through the cabin.
To this concert of banality, Air France would like to introduce the ultimate in uneccessary air cabin noise -- the mobile phone conversation. I learned about this troubling news at www.which.co.uk...Air France will incorporate special in-flight technology into the 100-seater Airbus A318, which is due to enter service in March 2007. That will make it the first airline in the world to introduce the technology. Until now mobile phones have been banned on aircraft as they can disrupt navigation systems.
The service will mean passengers can make calls and send texts on their phone as well as access the internet, and receive and send emails on phones, laptops or other devices.
What can I bring? -- Clearing customs in France is easy, if you're not packing contraband
Ever wonder what you can bring into the country when visiting France? Here is a short list of items (and quantities) that can be brought into the country. (Although I don't know who would want to bring wine INTO France -- maybe a Californian.)
Visitors may bring:
200 cigarettes (or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars)
2 litres of wine
1 litre of spirits
50g of perfume
one-quarter-liter of eau de toilette
100g of tea
500g of coffee
As you can see from the information below, starting your own little war or becoming a drug salesman is ill-advised for tourists travelling to France. Customs agents frown upon such things. I noticed there is a
form that one can fill out to get the guns permanently imported. But, for your short trip with the wife and kids...you're just plain out of luck, Rambo.
Here are a few items you'll clearly want to leave at home:machine guns and submachineguns; all automatic, semiautomatic and repeating rifles intended for use as military weapons; all semiautomatic rifles firing more than 3 shots, repeating rifles firing more than 10 shots and air or gas rifles whose magazines hold more than 5 cartridges; practically all handguns (pistols and revolvers), except starter guns and alarm pistols - provided they are not intended to fire bullets or shot; the ammunition thereof. In addition: narcotics such as opium, morphine, codeine, thebaine, heroin, methadone and related drugs and substances; depressants such as barbiturates, methaqualone, meprobamate, benzodiazepines; stimulants such as cocaine, amphetamines and methamphetamines, anorectic drugs, and related substances; cannabis (marijuana, herbal cannabis, cannabis resin, hashish, or hashish oil); hallucinogens such as LSD, mescaline and peyote, STP, DOB, MDA, MDMA, phencyclidine (PCP) and related drugs. (If you have a prescription, some of these items are allowed.)
(sources: parisinfo.com and embassy of france)
Bruno Julliard: French unions and students return to the streets on Tuesday
"We are calling for the pressure to be kept up until parliament votes the repeal of the CPE, including by blocking universities if necessary," Bruno Julliard, head of the UNEF students' union, told Reuters.
PM Dominique de Villepan regrets his legislation was misunderstood
The following is an excerpt from Martin Arnold's article in the
The Financial Times.
Looking tired and downcast, the prime minister [Dominique de Villepin] on Monday sounded almost apologetic for his part in a two-month crisis, which drove millions of protesters into the streets, split his party and sparked calls for reform of France’s political institutions.
"I wanted to propose a strong solution, because I had the conviction that… only a better balance between more flexibility for companies and more security for workers would allow us to break with unemployment in this country," he said. "This was not understood by everyone, which I regret."
The government’s U-turn, agreeing to replace his contentious youth labour reform with a collection of extra subsidies for companies employing unqualified youths, is a stinging blow for the prime minister’s authority. Some pundits were asking why he did not resign.
Inline skaters converge on Paris streets every Friday night, accompanied by skating Police and safety monitors
A pack of in-line skaters take over the streets of Paris every Friday at 10 p.m. If you'd like to join this gang of rolling Parisians, come to the area beneath the Montparnasse tower at 9:30 p.m.
For three hours you can tour the city while vigorously "getting your skate on." The route covers thirty kilometers and you'll meet people from all of Paris - and beyond. This group of thrill-seekers is always up for a good time, but if the streets are wet or if it's raining the week's ride will not roll.
Should you need to rent in-line skates for the Friday night ride consult with
Nomade Shop. They will rent skates to you, but because of the logistics of the transaction and schedules and such -- you will probably need to rent the skates for a day and a half. I think you'll pay about 9 euros for the full day and less for the half-day.
View their
Web site or visit the shop at 37 Bld Bourdon, near Place Bastille, to get more details about purchasing or renting in-line skates. I've heard there are other places to rent skates. If you know about alternate places, please leave a comment (below) with the information.
Skater's beware! Remember that the Metro closes at 12:30 a.m. If you return to the Montparnasse starting point at 1 a.m. you will need to take a bus or taxi, or walk home --- unless you are one of those automobile owners that we hear so much about.
METRO: lines 4, 6, 12 and 13 to
Montparnasse Bienvenue
INFO: PariRoller Web site
Driver of Renault Twingo plows into crowd on Boulevard Saint Germain, protestors injured
A motorist, angry with demonstrators blocking a street in Paris' Left Bank drove into the crowd of students protesting a jobs law on Friday, injuring 10 people. Furious demonstrators overturned the car and tried to drag the driver out before police intervened. -- Associated Press (photo:AFP)
See more photos by clicking on the link below, from Le Monde
Paris Metro: Art is everywhere...pay attention.
Sure, this Metro entrance at
Palais Royal looks fabulous. It's been bejeweled by a talented artist. But, its fabulousness causes confusion. If you were to stand near this colorful canopy for more three minutes somebody inevitably would approach you and ask, "how do I get to the Metro?" (in any number of languages.)
The tourists see it listed on their
metro map, but this particular Metro entrance is just too fabulous to be recognized. I've helped more than a few tourists with directions when I was in this area on the way to my alternate bus stop. Their faces would always light up when they realized it was not just a lavish piece of sculpture before them. It was their destination. Perhaps if it were doused in urine it would be more recognizable.
Here are links to a few of the other photos I've taken - au même endroit.
city workers, columns & cafe and a street scene.
Daniel Cohn-Bendit (1968) & Bruno Julliard (2006)
Excerpt from The Independent Online (UK)
Daniel Cohn-Bendit will be forever the face of the French student revolt of May 1968. Bruno Julliard will probably go down as the face of the "events of March 2006".
Critics say M. Julliard is a pure product of the centre- left, mainstream, "statist" establishment in France. He is the son of a Socialist mayor and the stepson of a Communist-leaning senior civil servant. He is accused by extremists of being a "bourgeois careerist" and by moderates of being a stooge for the anti-market left wing of the main French opposition party, the Parti Socialiste.
The differences between M. Julliard and M. Cohn-Bendit sum up the differences between the two "revolts". Cohn-Bendit, was a classic outsider, who wanted to change everything, an impish, ill-dressed, anarchic figure with a shock of red hair and a funny and provocative turn of phrase.
Bruno Julliard is smartly dressed, and talks the language of mainstream politics. He is fighting a defensive battle to save France's strong, employment protections for the new generation.
Sorbonne president: student protestors are "ignorant and stupid"
The president of the world-renowned
Sorbonne University has branded French students protesting about the country's new employment law "ignorant and stupid"...Jean-Robert Pitte said the youngsters had no dreams but believed everything was due to them as a right without having to work for it..."Today's youth don't have dreams, they have illusions." -- Guardian Unlimited (photo: unknown)
An Easter Bunny in Paris
Jesus rises from the dead and we celebrate by eating chocolate rabbits. OK, maybe that's an unfair analysis of an Easter Day tradition. Parisians and visitors in search of Easter treats can find them (and more) at
Lafayette Gourmet. The store is an oasis of epicurean delight and is inside the Galleries Lafayette. This offers a good excuse to drop in for some
bon-bons and then take a detour once inside.
LAFAYETTE GOURMET40, boulevard Haussmann 75009
Metro : Chaussée d'Antin La Fayette
tel: 01 42 82 34 56
Travel to France could be hampered by protests, says U.S. Department of State
From: U.S. Department of State
March 27, 2006
Public Announcement (not listed as "travel warning")
This Public Announcement is issued to alert Americans to ongoing security concerns in France. Demonstrations, sometimes involving violence, have occurred and continue to occur in Paris and other large cities in France in opposition to a new law concerning employment contracts for young workers. This Public Announcement will expire on April 30, 2006.
Recent demonstrations have occurred at times in areas frequented by tourists. Some of the demonstrations may be announced, while others may be spontaneous. Police have responded by using tear gas. U.S. Embassy personnel have been advised to avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings.
The Department of State advises U.S. citizens traveling or residing in France to avoid areas where crowds are expected to gather, to exercise caution, particularly during evening and nighttime hours, and to closely follow media reports.
Travelers in France who need assistance can contact the U.S. Embassy at tel. 33-1-43-12-22-22 or (in France) 01-43-12-22-22; fax 33-1-42-61-61-40, or by email at: citizeninfo@state.gov. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Paris is located at 2 Rue St. Florentin, 75001 Paris (Place de La Concorde, Metro Stop Concorde). Further information can be obtained at the U.S. Embassy's web site at http://france.usembassy.gov/.
For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov/, where the current Worldwide Cautions, Public Announcements, and Travel Warnings can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747.
France / Tourism: "...we'd have to take some measures"
From the International Herald Tribune:
Protests in France against the new labor law, and the worldwide coverage they are receiving, are worrying the country's tourism authorities, who fear that travelers will stay away if the disturbances persist.
"If the events were to continue, we'd have to take some measures," Tourism Minister Léon Bertrand said in a telephone interview.
"Two more weeks and we're going to have problems," he said.
Paris, the world's No. 1 tourist destination, with 26 million visitors a year, is already regarded by various foreign countries as a potential danger zone.
The embassies of the United States, Britain and Japan warned their citizens to steer clear of parts of the city after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest the employment plan. More protests are expected next week.
Bruno Julliard: "We haven't been heard"
"Bruno Julliard (on left), the president of the UNEF student union, rejected the notion of negotiating improvements to a contract that devalued young people." -- Telegraph.co.uk
mobilisation, France, CPE, l'UNEF, Bruno Julliard, students,protest
Paris for the realist: not as expensive as you might think
Living in Paris is expensive. But, tourists and short-term visitors may be surprised to find that one can still enjoy the City of Light without going broke. In most big cities it is expensive to be a tourist and to entertain yourself. People who don't have a shopping spree on their itinerary and those who won't mind eating in one and two star restaurants can enjoy Paris while making their euros last a little longer.
If you are the type of person who likes to shop, even when you don't need to, or who cannot bypass the gift shop on your way out of a museum -- or if you think you need to bring a gift home for anyone beyond your immediate family -- you better plan on spending a few hundred euros on such things. If you live simply and have friends who would be pleased with a small gift or who would be happy enough that you had a chance to travel and expand your horizons, you can visit Paris for a reasonable sum.
Below are common expenses one might incur while in Paris. Prices are listed in euros. Click the
currency converter to compare with your country's currency. The asterisk (*) is my addition. I've placed an asterisk on the items that, in my opinion, will probably cost more than indicated in the source material. Depending on the area, type of establishment and time of day, meals can vary. Again, simplicity and realistic expectations will keep costs down.
entrance to museum €7 to €9.sandwich €5.*pizza €8 to €10*small coffee €1 to €2 full meal €15 to €20* baguette €0.80beer in café €2 to €4*movie ticket €9 (data source: parisinfo.com)Return to the beginning of this blogtourist, France, Paris, currency converter, travel, travel guides, 40 Days in Paris
Jacques Chirac et "la construction abracadabrantesque"
C'est texte d'un article de Le Monde.Les modifications que Jacques Chirac a proposées pour sortir de la crise vont être faites "rapidement", a promis Jean-Louis Debré, le président de l'Assemblée nationale, sur TF1. La droite s'est félicitée de l'intervention du chef de l'Etat, Nicolas Sarkozy en tête. Jacques Chirac a pris "une décision sage, conforme à ce que l'immense majorité des parlementaires UMP souhaitait", a estimé le ministre de l'intérieur, soulignant qu'il avait lui-même plaidé pour le "compromis" dans le CPE.
Chez les anti-CPE, l'allocution de Jacques Chirac n'a pas convaincu : le président "a fait compliqué là où il devait faire simple", a estimé François Hollande, premier secrétaire du PS, pendant que le président du groupe PS dénonçait la "construction abracadabrantesque" des annonces présidentielles. Surtout, les syndicats ont réitéré en chœur leur appel à une journée de grève et de manifestations le mardi 4 avril.
Return to the beginning of this blogCPE, France, Paris, Chirac, abracadabrantesque, 40 Days in Paris
Paris Saint Germain wins its 7th French Cup. Bravo! But, I can't believe it took 5,000 police to keep dueling spectators in control during the finale. Is this the same mild-mannered club that offers its fans a selection of lingerie bearing the team logo? Perhaps if more people in the crowd were wearing official club lingerie under their clothes there would have been less fighting and more harmony at Stade de France. 
