ohhh the grève life

(this is my grève tribute photo)

So recently, the French Upper House passed a pension reform bill. It raised the retirement age from 60 to 62. Everyone is very unhappy about this. 

In school it is very normal to people to come into morning classes a half an hour late because of the tram (local public transportation) either not running, or running less often than normal, because of the strike. (However, being late for anything in France is not looked down upon like it is in the states... most of my teachers show up a few minutes after the time class is designated to start while students wait in the hall for them to unlock the door... just the way it is!) 

The strike has also disrupted various transportation services. There has been a blockade on refineries, fuel depots and ports, leaving many gas stations empty. I also read about protesters barricading roads leading to Marseille Airport, forcing passengers to abandon their cars and drag suitcases to the terminal on foot to catch flights (if their flights haven't been completely cancelled).

Every day I go downtown, I see some sort of demonstration- people holding signs, chanting, yelling into megaphones. For an American to see all this, it's almost comical, because from the moment I got here I was blown away by how lenient and relaxed the workplace is here (the first week it was REALLY annoying because nobody wanted to process any international paperwork. They would just tell me that "tomorrow" I should bring it in, until I finally yelled at someone about how important it was, and she just did it in 2 minutes... she just would have rather not been bothered...)

They also don't mess around when it comes to lunch breaks. You will not find any bank or post office open between 11 and 2. In addition to a laid-back, be-late-if-you-want-because-it-doesn't-matter attitude, and a HEFTY lunch break, many french office workers don't work friday afternoons, and most have 5 weeks paid vacation throughout the year, not to mention the best health care system in the world. So when I see signs saying "le travail tue" (work kills), I was like, heeyyy now, come on, you guys have it pretttyyyy good. 

But I gotta think about it differently. Striking is just a culture we don't have. Their benefits and health care systems wouldn't be so darn good if they didn't complain a lot until it was better. So, I just soak it in and take lots of pictures and hope that none of the bakers go on strike because I am loving these delicious buttery pastries. yummm.

SO. These photos here are from last week when strikers decided to barricade all the doors on every building on campus so that nobody could have class:

There was a big gathering in one of the lecture halls where students on strike were supposed to do some talking or whatever, but apparently things got a little heated- I heard they started vandalizing a bit, and tried to stay there overnight, and when security came to kick them out there people started fighting them... sooo next day:

Translation: You don't have school for the next week WHAT UP.

aww man!

riot police are everywhere.

Saint Guilhem le Désert

This little village listed on Les Plus Beaux Villages de France ("The most beautiful villages of France"). It is also one of the oldest. In 806, Saint Guilhem, a cousin of Charlemagne, founded the village, and established the monastery of Gellone. The first thing you notice when you approach the village (which is so intriguing on its on- the old stone buildings, the tiny little streets and courtyards) is up above, on this protruding jagged mountain face, the ruins of an old fortress, called le Château du Géant. It was constructed in the 1600s, and served as an excellent look-out to defend the Hérault Valley.

This dried flower stuck on the is called a Cardabelle, and is known in the region as the Barometre du Berger (the Shepherd’s Barometer). It has the special property of opening up when the sun shines and closing shortly before bad weather. It is very particular to this area of France, so it is kind of like a symbol for the village. You see it on every door up and down the streets.

(this is the main street.)

L'Abbaye:

 L'eau Potable:

This is one of those villages where there is constantly fresh water flowing everywhere. There are fountains all over the place to fill up your water bottle. This is just a little fresh stream coming from the mountains with stepping stones to cross it.

Dungeons and Dragons! I love buildings in old French cities because there are always little old mysterious nooks and crannies, like this spooky little dungeon I passed by...

This one is for Steve Foley. Look at that balcony, dad. Get buildin'!

This is a nearby river that I was very close to doing a cannon-ball into.

and again, le Château du Géant...

 

Grotte de Clamouse

We took an excursion October 2nd to this amazing cave called la Grotte de Clamouse. Afterward, we visited a cute historical village called Saint-Guilhem-le-Désert (pictures of that will come soon). The caves were awesome. So hot and sunny outside, the caves were moist and cool. It looked a lot like Fraggle Rock.

Le Pont du Diable

the caves are inside this mountain face

so I was little bit hungover, but I hung in there for a great trip!

heading in...

In one area of the cave, they did this awesome light show with this crazy techno opera music. It was pretty wild.

 (so many places for fraggles to hide)