One of the best things about Paris is that train travel, both within France and across borders, is relatively cheap…at least if you can speak (or fake) a little French. Searching for tickets in English will yield prices that are significanlty more expensive.
The SNCF travel website is where all the best train deals can be found. If you scroll down to the bottom of the homepage, you'll see a sign for English that will transfer you to the website for "TGV Europe/Rail Europe." This anglophone portal is handy, but you'll pay more for tickets here. Searching this site today for an October fare from Paris to Marseilles, the cheapest round-trip ticket was $158. With an obligatory $13 charge for an e-ticket (which was cheaper than the $18 or $36 shipping options), the total price of the round-trip ticket was $171. Back at the SNCF website, written in French, the cheapest fare was €75 with no additional fees or charges. Converted to dollars, that round-trip ticket was $107—a savings of almost 40 percent!
If you don't speak French and can't find a francophone friend to help you, consider muddling through the SNCF site with the help of Google Translate or Yahoo's Babel Fish. Just paste the address of whatever SNCF page you're looking at into the tranlsation box, and the program will translate every word from French to English. This will require a bit more time and patience than using the English portal, sure, but the savings will be significant.
Monday 24 August 2009
Monday 10 August 2009
Green algae – a toxic problem for French beaches
The growing problem of green algae on several beaches in northern France has reached crisis point after a horse died and its rider lost consciousness within seconds of falling into the decomposing seaweed.
French locals in the Brittany village of Saint-Michel-en-Greve say enough is enough and are calling for something to be done.
One woman warned: “If the algae is left to rot and a child falls in it, I don’t know what we will do.”
Up to 70 French beaches are said to be affected by the spread of the seaweed which is known locally as “green lettuce”.
When the plant decomposes, it forms an impermeable white crust under which toxic hydrogen sulphide accumulates. Some scientists believe it is what wiped out the dinosaurs.
The modern-day problem is being blamed on intensive farming practices and the widespread use of phosphates.
The build-up of the algae is affecting the local tourist trade with beaches periodically having to be closed. The warning is: if you smell something like rotten eggs – don’t go there!
French locals in the Brittany village of Saint-Michel-en-Greve say enough is enough and are calling for something to be done.
One woman warned: “If the algae is left to rot and a child falls in it, I don’t know what we will do.”
Up to 70 French beaches are said to be affected by the spread of the seaweed which is known locally as “green lettuce”.
When the plant decomposes, it forms an impermeable white crust under which toxic hydrogen sulphide accumulates. Some scientists believe it is what wiped out the dinosaurs.
The modern-day problem is being blamed on intensive farming practices and the widespread use of phosphates.
The build-up of the algae is affecting the local tourist trade with beaches periodically having to be closed. The warning is: if you smell something like rotten eggs – don’t go there!
Tuesday 4 August 2009
French farmers refuse to repay €330m in state grants
French farmers have rejected a demand to repay hundreds of millions of euros in state subsidies that have been ruled illegal by the European Commission.
François Lafitte, leader of Fédécom, the fruit and vegetable producers' union, said paying back the €330m given to farmers between 1992 and 2002 would bankrupt them.
"Nobody will pay these subsidies," he said. "Firstly, because the amounts put forward by Brussels don't add up. Secondly, because it would spell ruin for the industry."
Mr Lafitte said the subsidies had helped fruit and vegetable producers "face up to competition" from Spain and Portugal.
Between 1992 and 2002, the French state agricultural agency awarded over €330m in grants to help farmers struggling from a crisis of oversupply of French products in the European market. The money was meant to help farmers lower their prices and find temporary storage for surplus harvest.
In January, the Commission ruled that the subsidies were unlawful and likely to distort competition in the European market. France was ordered to reclaim the original subsidies plus interest.
Mr Le Maire's predecessor, Michel Barnier, launched an appeal at the European court of justice in April to reduce the amount claimed by Brussels. While the exact figure has yet to be agreed, the new agricultural minister believes the process of reimbursement should begin regardless, warning that if the appeal were lost, France would have to pay even more than the €330m plus interest of €100m-€150m that has so far been invoiced.
The calls for repayment come at a difficult time for French farmers, with prices for fruit and vegetables 30-40 per cent lower than the weekly average of the past five years, according to Modef, the farmers' union.
This is not the first time France has been rapped by Brussels for illegal subsidies. In 2002, the European court ruled that France had given illegal financial aid to cognac producers. France admitted the subsidies had been against European law but remains mired in a battle with the cognac producers to reclaim the funds. In both cases, if the subsidies are not paid back, Brussels can order France to pay a fine and daily penalties
François Lafitte, leader of Fédécom, the fruit and vegetable producers' union, said paying back the €330m given to farmers between 1992 and 2002 would bankrupt them.
"Nobody will pay these subsidies," he said. "Firstly, because the amounts put forward by Brussels don't add up. Secondly, because it would spell ruin for the industry."
Mr Lafitte said the subsidies had helped fruit and vegetable producers "face up to competition" from Spain and Portugal.
Between 1992 and 2002, the French state agricultural agency awarded over €330m in grants to help farmers struggling from a crisis of oversupply of French products in the European market. The money was meant to help farmers lower their prices and find temporary storage for surplus harvest.
In January, the Commission ruled that the subsidies were unlawful and likely to distort competition in the European market. France was ordered to reclaim the original subsidies plus interest.
Mr Le Maire's predecessor, Michel Barnier, launched an appeal at the European court of justice in April to reduce the amount claimed by Brussels. While the exact figure has yet to be agreed, the new agricultural minister believes the process of reimbursement should begin regardless, warning that if the appeal were lost, France would have to pay even more than the €330m plus interest of €100m-€150m that has so far been invoiced.
The calls for repayment come at a difficult time for French farmers, with prices for fruit and vegetables 30-40 per cent lower than the weekly average of the past five years, according to Modef, the farmers' union.
This is not the first time France has been rapped by Brussels for illegal subsidies. In 2002, the European court ruled that France had given illegal financial aid to cognac producers. France admitted the subsidies had been against European law but remains mired in a battle with the cognac producers to reclaim the funds. In both cases, if the subsidies are not paid back, Brussels can order France to pay a fine and daily penalties
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