• With the garbage collectors' strike caused by the government's planned pension reform, tourists are also suffering from the pile of waste in the streets of Paris.
  • If the conditions often spoil the holidays and the postcard image of the capital, tourists make good luck against bad luck good heart and enjoy as much as possible the charms of the city.
  • For many, aware of the situation, the strike movement is legitimate and well worth the few inconveniences to their visit.

They wanted to see the France and they saw the France... We do not know if in 2023, Jacques Brel would have reviewed the lyrics of his song, but it must be admitted that foreign tourists, who came to visit the most romantic city in the world, were served on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

Between the garbage cans that disgust from all the sidewalks of the "City of Light" and the demonstration against the pension reform that cut the capital in two, limiting visitors in their journeys, we suspected that the postcard would turn out to be less idyllic than expected. Apart from disaster, there was no worse day to visit Paris. So at 20 Minutes, we crisscrossed the tourist places to find out what foreign tourists were really experiencing in this troubled period.

"Paris remains Paris"

"If you remove the smell, it's bearable." Hilares, Kerstin and Markus perfectly sum up what the vast majority of visitors to the capital smell. Both from the suburbs of Innsbruck in Austria, they are coming to Paris for the first time: "We've been together for two years and we've never made a real trip here. It's a first honeymoon. »

The ubiquitous garbage cans on every street don't surprise them. Warned by their hotel of the situation before their arrival, they were offered a postponement of their trip, which they refused: "The cost was too expensive and then Paris remains Paris. " However, the shock was harsh last Sunday: "The news in Austria talks about the strike here, but when you see it in real life, it's more impressive." Too bad, determined to enjoy, they stay in their bubble: "The Eiffel Tower is high enough that you do not see the garbage cans in the photos and beautiful enough to forget the rest. "

"We know why it's so dirty"

A philosophy adopted by the majority of tourists on this "day in hell" in Paris. No Bruce Willis here to save the situation so Marcio, Mauro and Ronald, three Brazilian friends on a road trip to Europe for three weeks: "We knew there were movements here, without really knowing what was happening. Now on the spot, we understand better. Not scalded for a penny, they crisscross the city omitting the rubbish: "We know why it's so dirty. It's episodic, bad luck. But that won't stop us from enjoying. »



Like them, most tourists can not ignore the task on the stay. But once there, there is no question of missing the opportunity. "The hygienic side sometimes leaves something to be desired. But tourist places like the Eiffel Tower or the Champs Elysées remain clean. So we deal with it," Uma and Ted comment, undeterred. Both from Chicago, they came to visit their daughter, Laura, a music student in Paris. "It's a mix between Emily in Paris and Ratatouille, except that Ratatouille does the garbage rather than the kitchen," laughs Uma.

"Unusable" neighborhoods for Instagram

Not everyone is so positive about the situation in Paris. Some for the panorama, like Avara who regrets that the poetic image of the capital is spoiled. Follower of Instagram, this Indian plagues about some streets of Paris unsposed to clichés because of the garbage. Fortunately for this tall redhead, the rue de l'Université remains as immaculate as its view of the Eiffel Tower: "But some beautiful neighborhoods are unusable because of waste."

A situation that others take philosophically. Julianne, an Irish woman who came with her husband and two children, enjoys the Champs Élysées, barely affected by the garbage collectors' strike: "It could be problematic. But at the same time, it's 'so French' to go on strike that you might think it's part of the visits," she laughs. More seriously, it poses the pros and cons.

Why not join the demonstration?

A little disappointed by the image she shows her children of Paris, she takes the opportunity to explain the reason for this carnage: "The French are fighting for their rights. We caricature them for that. But they are the ones who are right. They have rebellion in their blood, and we should be inspired by it more often because they do not let it happen. This is an opportunity to explain to our children that if the garbage is there, it is because people pick them up every day. And that today they say that their job is too hard. »

As soon as these words were spoken, she wondered about the relevance of going to see the day's demonstration: "It seems a little violent sometimes, but our landlord AirBnb told us that it did not fear anything until we went to the end. "



Warned, they may find Ambrozy and Weronika, two Poles, twenty who stumble upon the beginning of the demonstration in front of the Invalides: "We came as tourists to see the building and we saw all this commotion. Police from everywhere, people with flags, music. We decided to picnic here to take a look. Unaccustomed to demonstrations, they are impressed by the organization and the crowd that drains on the square: "We always see the images of violence, but here, we have more the impression of arriving in Sziget," Ambrozy laughs.

"It's also the charm of the French"

Excited by the flags, the atmosphere and the music, they are on the verge of joining the procession: "We only have three days in Paris, so we don't know yet. But it's tempting. For demonstrations, the French are the kings and it is legitimate to defend one's rights. »



For Sofia and Martin, two English students in Erasmus in Nice and Grenoble, no doubt, they will be part of the procession: "We came to visit a French friend who was in our university last year. And we decided to protest," Sofia explains. His second demonstration after a first against Brexit during his adolescence: "It's also the charm of the French to be able to turn the country around for this kind of thing. In England, we have a great tradition of trade union struggle. But that died out a few decades ago. So we come to take lessons," she smiles. Classes in the middle of the garbage, that's also "French flair".

  • Paris
  • Ile
  • Strike
  • Pension reform 2023
  • Tourism
  • Demonstration