Tuesday, 8 May 2007
Big weekend
[UPDATE 09.05.2007—Added a picture gallery for invited guests (restricted page).]
This was a big weekend, both temporally, nationally, and personally.
Temporally in that, like a large number of Frenchmen, I took Monday off to benefit from today being a holiday, making a second consecutive four-day weekend (since I did the same thing for May Day—and will be doing the same next week for Ascension).
The ridiculous amount of time we get off from work in France is something I've written about before, and it appears that I am far from being the only one to think it's a bit much. I say this because on Sunday the French electorate voted Nicolas Sarkozy into office as the next president of the French Republic. Sarkozy's policies are largely centred around economic reforms, doing away with some of the more luxurious benefits accorded to employees here, with the aim of making it easier for French companies to do business. We'll see what he's able to achieve, however, since the French president is largely a figurehead; he'll need to win a parliamentary majority next month in order to have any real power to bring about his reforms. I will say that Sarkozy is one of the most impressive orators I've ever heard speak, in any language.
Finally, personally we had a busy weekend as well. Friday night we had a lovely evening at another couple's in Lille with whom we played Mah jong (first time Emilie or I have done that). Then Saturday we boarded the TGV early to spend the day at Disneyland Paris (formerly known as Euro Disney) with another couple we're friends with who live in the south. It was my first visit to the park—but Emilie's eighth! I think it's safe to say she's a big fan. It's a nice park and their Space Mountain in particular is breathtaking, so it was a good trip, and it was good to see the other couple again.
