Emily in France 🇫🇷 Striking is Fun!

Paris likes a strike.

As anyone who's been following the (28 weeks) of gilets jaunes protests has probably figured out by now, we're big into manifestations, protests, and strikes of all kinds in Paris – and throughout France, for that matter. The right to strike is written into our constitution, and we take it very, very seriously.

When I first lived in Paris, the RATP, which controls the Paris métro, went on strike for most of the month of November, running one train out of every four. Upon my return from a weekend in London, I ended up having to walk home to the 7th from Gare du Nord (luckily, I was hardier back then, and also traveled exclusively with a backpack).

Strikes such as these are not uncommon, and while they're certainly annoying on occasion, they also have their bonuses: a strike in 1993, after all, is what helped Parisian bakers invent the baguette de tradition (my personal fave).

(Oh, and like... all of the various and sundry French Revolutions, of which there were something akin to four and change.)

This past Monday, it got personal: the Louvre security personnel went on strike to protest overcrowding. I had gotten up at 7:30 after a guiding service I work for called, asking me to come in for a 9:30 tour, only to have them cancel. I ended up quickly thanking my lucky stars, as when I headed over for my (regularly scheduled) 11:30 tour, I found that everyone who had been waiting since 9am for the museum to open was... still waiting.

There's a reason I long ago exchanged my "to do" list for a "to attempt" list... and I've often said my memoirs (if I ever get around to writing them) will be called fermeture exceptionnelle.

While I feel badly for those who missed their shot to see the Mona Lisa, I was grateful, at least, to get to enjoy the sunshine.

Where I'm Eating

I've been meaning to check out Hugo&Co, just a stone's throw away from historic market street rue Mouffetard, for years. I'm so glad I finally did: this internationally-inspired bistro boasts friendly staff, a great natural wine list, a casual ambiance, and fantastic food. It's found its way onto my ever-evolving list of favorite Paris restaurants, which you can check out here.
 

Where I'm Going

1. The Louis Vuitton Foundation is hosting a temporary exhibit of Impressionist art that I'm definitely going to be checking out.

2. Summer in Paris means picnics; my favorite spot for one is on the Left Bank of the Seine, not far from Jussieu.

3. Summer in Paris also means sidewalk cafés and rooftop cocktails – I'm excited to spend some time at both thanks to this roundup of some of the best in the city.
 

What I'm Writing

1. Just in case you didn't know... I'm a massive fan of cheese. I rounded up some of my all-time faves for Fodor's.

2. General inflammation can be the cause of all sorts of health woes – I delved into how to reduce it for Organic Authority.

3. Zucchini is back in season, and one of my favorite recipes to make for a seasonal apéro is this savory zucchini and goat cheese cake, which I developed for EatingWell.

What I'm Reading

1. This exploration about why sometimes, it's OK to give up, in the New York Times.

2. This historical story exploration of the presence of Muslims in the Americas pre-U.S. of A in Aeon.

3. This story about the strange turn healthy eating has taken in the Atlantic.

A bientôt !
Emily in France