Saturday, April 4, 2009

A week end like no other....

Well, the NATO summit's over and President Obama has already landed in Prague for his next official visit. It's been a week end like no other, as I think these pictures will prove....


Just to reassure you I am perfectly safe and was nowhere near these scenes of violence. We kept well out of the way. But my thoughts go to all who were injured or indeed who live in the affected areas. As well as to those who have to clean up afterwards. Bon courage....

Here's a wee Strasbourg playlist - surprising the number of songs in different styles which mention this lovely city. Let's hope things get back to normal ASAP....

Discover The Rakes!

18 comments:

saneshane said...

I only get 10 seconds of the rakes.. I've said this before but their geography is dubious.. the rest of your playlist is great though.(I don't understand the words enough to question)..
now getting into politics.. the kettling of protesters is recipe for violence.. boiling point being apt.. nope, not the time or place.. glad you are okay and hope your city gets back to normal soon.

.... said...

Thanks for that. I did wonder when I heard them singing merrily about 'West Germaneeeee'. I kind of assumed they'd cross the bridge in the song. And without getting into politics (you're quite right) on a logistical level,as I understnd it, they sealed off the centre of town which is encircled by the river. The anti NATO village was built just on the other side - technically still in Strasbourg but just on the other side of the river. What I heard on the news yesterday was that unfortunately the peaceful protesters got caught in a sandwich between the riot police and those who had come with the expressed intent to cause damage.
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Thanks for the good wishes - we enjoyed your hair list with the windows open and the sun streaming in yesterday. It somewhat covered the noise of the helicopters...

saneshane said...

I do like the song.. so lets say they crossed the bridge..

I forgot to say the photographs from Le Monde are quite spectacular..

glad you enjoyed the playlist.

Carole said...

The photographs are stunning, remind me not to stay in an Ibis again.

.... said...

Hi Carole. Totally burned out. And there was a little kiosque with a chemists and a paper shop and a café just before you hit the Europa bridge. All burned. I've just cycled round the centre of town in this glorious weather and it's all back to normal - with a large amount of gendarmes strolling around just in case. Lovely not to have any noise though. Peace. And. Quiet.

TracyK said...

Off the topic (promise to check out the music tomorrow!), but we're planning a tour of the north-east this summer FP, hubby wants to see Cragside and I want to see Lindisfarne, so it works out really well. Do you have any recommendations for places we should stop and visit when we are in the 'area'? We'll be spending 4-5 days there, after first detouring through Cheshire for a day or two on the Wales/England borders. Any sites of prehistoric interest or with spectacular food would be especially welcome!

Carole said...

I visited Cragside years ago, it's worth seeing.

Anonymous said...
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DarceysDad said...

Sheesh! The world is indeed going to Hell in a handcart.

"Arrêtez le monde, je voudrais le quitter!"

[Did I get that right? I'm ever so rusty!

Shoegazer said...

Are you sure that's not you in the balaclava helmet?

What is it with the Frenchie's & protesting? Everytime I went to Paris, it was either protests about the 25 hour work week or students upset about something (excessive homework maybe). There were usually some overturned or torched cars then too. Methinks they protest too much.

.... said...

@ tracyk : I'll confab with the family oop North and do a special geordieland post for you!
---
@ Darce - sounds right to me! You could say "je veux descendre!" as well.
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@ Shoey : It's a tradition here. You don't agree with something? You STRIKE!!!!!

ejaydee said...

FP's right, Shoey. We generally don't like to give anything away, it's got good and bad sides.
Howevwer, in this case, it's important to make a distinction between the protesters and those that came to "let off some steam" on a city. I wonder what the Ibis did to them.

DarceysDad said...

Probably refused their booking when they rang asking for one room with 24 breakfasts to go!

ejaydee said...

Filthy money-hungry bastards!!

TracyK said...

You might find this Daily Mash article amusing:
http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/business/french-trader-was-forced-to-work-30-hours-a-week-20080125680/

.... said...

Quite right, guys. The IBIS hotel and the wee kiosk of shops at the borders really were collateral damage. And I'm sure the vast majority of demonstrators came without any intention to wantonly destroy property...

tincanman said...

Tracy, we should organize a paths crossing social while you are in our area. Webcore is near here, and DsD is in the area for family visits. So shouldn't be hard to organize a picnic or something neat Chester.

TracyK said...

That sounds good, if we can synchronise schedules!