Another Mardi Noir (Black Tuesday) of strikes, or so they are labelling it in the newspapers. The high schools and colleges have been on strike (en grève) for some time and the government, transit and other unions joined in today.
A fuschia banner at the metro stop announced that the Lycée Delacroix (high school)was en lutte (in the struggle). Imagine a US high school named after an artist (Andy Warhol High? Jaspar Johns Academy?).
The Place de la République metro stop was flush with riot police (the CRS), RATP Sécurité, and even a German Shepherd police dog wearing a heavily studded and nasty looking black leather muzzle. The garbagemen were all lined up ready to clean up after the manifestation (demonstration) was over.
The ‘manif’ (common shorthand for manifestation) had the same festive, carnival atmosphere seen in the other demonstrations here, complete with music and food.
And one of the things I like most here is that little dogs go everywhere: restaurants, the metro, stores, on escalators, and even to manifestations.
Cynthia Tuttelman (aka "Tut") is a writer, family doctor and quilter who lives in Northern California and part-time each year in Paris, France. Follow along and explore the wonders of Paris.