Bonnes Vacances!

It’s August in France. That means that getting anything accomplished is nearly impossible. I’m dealing with medical issues…forget finding doctors. A search on Doctolib for a spinal surgeon to administer a cortisone shot just wasn’t happening until September. So, if you can help it, try to stay healthy through the vacation period, or else you will suffer…as I am.

Map of search results for spinal specialists in Nice

Our offices are officially closed all of next week. August 15th is “Assomption,” the assumption of the Virgin Mary, commemorating the end of the earthly life of the Virgin Mary. Although it’s a religious holiday and France is secular, they still consider it a holiday, and marks the height of the vacation period. This is why we chose this week to shut down and give everyone a break.

I will not be writing our Nouvellettres®, so don’t expect to see them in your inbox. Our staff will not be reading or answering emails and we will not be answering our phones…unless of course, if it’s an emergency. We’re entitled to one week at least, while the rest of France is taking their entitled five weeks of vacation a year. For example:

“Whether working full-time or part-time, employees benefit from 2.5 working days per month of actual work in the same employer. This corresponds to 30 working days (5 weeks) for a full year of work.” (Source)

We know that for many of you this is the best time of year to travel around France and pick a spot that might suit you as your future home, but it’s really not. Keep in mind that cities in France will look and behave very differently than they normally do. Some cities will be overwhelmed with tourists (Nice) and others will ghost towns (Paris). Villages in the South of France will come to life while the larger cities will have emptied out (into the villages and beach communities). So, if you’re trying to get a “feel” for what town might work for you in the long run, don’t use August as your guide.

Crowds on rue Masséna in Nice

An empty street in Paris in August

Many Parisians opt to stay in the city in August because they love the way it feels when they have the city all to themselves…less noise, less pollution, less hustle-bustle. I find the city can be a bit schizophrenic because some areas will be dead (residential) while other areas will be awash with tourists (Ile de la Cité around Notre Dame, for example). You will find some streets totally void of traffic, while others will be jammed for blocks. Even Paris Plage was hurting for customers when I left the city last week. It makes no sense…but, it’s Paris in August and that explains it all.

A relatively empty Paris Plage

A busy beach in Nice

I’m not one of those people who likes the city when its void of its inhabitants. I prefer the energy the tourists bring vying for a spot on the beach or worming their way down rue Masséna. Paris without Parisians is just depressing at a time like this for someone like me. Meanwhile, I am scrambling to find doctors who can offer some relief from a ruptured disk, but they are simply not to be found. A hospital emergency room may be the only real option at a time like this!

Stay tuned. You won’t hear from me until after vacation on August 18th.

Bonnes vacances!

A la prochaine…