14 juin 2020

Quelles nouvelles ? juin 2020




Dear All,

Some more for you...

President Macron has just announced on TV that all of mainland France and Corsica is now fully open from tomorrow on - all restaurants, cafés, etc.!

School will be compulsory for all from mid-June.

Flights between EU countries will likewise begin again. Flights to and from non-EU countries, so long as these latter are "safe", will recommence on 1st July.

France has joined with three other EU countries to buy several billion doses of an anti-Covid vaccine in development from Astra-Zeneca.

Photos taken yesterday in my local supermarket and the street.



Bises amicales à vous tous,

John Crothers



John was one of the founder members of the original Alliance Française de Belfast, now the Cercle français. Although living and working in Paris he keeps in close touch with the cercle and we are delighted to hear his news and updates on life in France. 


15 mai 2020

Quelles nouvelles ? mai 2020 Venturing out


Quelles nouvelles ?

In this occasional note from Paris where he lives, Cercle member John Crothers has been in touch to share some observations about his first métro journey in over two months in the City of Lights.  





thought the idea of "fashion masks" would take hold - here it is in evidence today, in a boutique window in St-Germain-des-Prés!





My first time to venture out into central Paris by métro for over two months - everyone respecting seat instructions; very few people on platforms when I travelled at 12 noon; everyone wearing masks - of varying types; finally, a maximum of four people or so in each carriage. 

At Montparnasse, all the RATP staff were wearing visors as well as face masks!
I have a feeling that this is far better than what's happening in the Tube in London... 


My hairdresser strongly agreed with me the other day when I said, "French people like to think of themselves as undisciplined - it's almost a point of honour to proclaim yourself 'Mediterranean'. 
But, when it comes to the bit, they're extremely well disciplined, in fact!"


Take care of yourselves,
John


John was one of the founder members of the original Alliance Française de Belfast, now the Cercle français. Although living and working in Paris he keeps in close touch with the cercle and we are delighted to hear his news and updates on life in France.