Paris' Dim News

On the edge of Paris' 11th arrondissement, the
bistro La Jacoune.

Bouchon, Eviction and Suspension

Paris:- Sunday, 15. October 2000:- During this past week there was the usual sort of news in France and in Paris; robbery, corruption, storms, violence, hate, accidents, murder trials, floods, sports - all of the sorts of events usually ignored here - because there are other abundant sources of 'news.'

Even if not re-reported here, I want to assure readers that 'news' did happen in France and in Paris during the past week. So much of it that it has filled many hours-worth of TV-news time and many editions of many newspapers.

Below you will find Metropole's weekly selection, which is chosen entirely by chancing on what seem to be interesting stories that reflect - dimly - life in Paris.

Last Tuesday morning, physiotherapists - 'kinéthérapeutes' - from the Hauts-de-Seine department staged an 'opération escargot' which began on the Perifreak! with 50 or 80 cars creeping along at snail-racing speeds.

The creepers swung into the area of La Défence and jammed everybody up until 9:30. But by then the Seine's quays were blocked and all of west Paris was at a near standstill.

At its height, traffic authorities estimated the jam to be 139 kilometres long overall, and two hours later it had only diminished to 119 kilometres - which is higher than normal for a Tuesday in Paris.

The physiotherapists were protesting, throughout France, because the government has forbidden these health professionals to raise their tariffs to match rising costs.

In fact, the national health insurance has lowered reimbursements to patients by three percent, which has had a depressive accordion effect on the overall revenues of the 'kinéthérapeutes.'

The equivalent word for 'kinéthérapeutes' in my big dictionary is physiotherapist, but an explanation of what they do may be useful.

In France, if your back has 'locked up,' your regular doctor will pass you on to a 'kinéthérapeute' - called 'kiné' for short - and this professional will examine your situation and suggest a varying number of treatment sessions.

In my own case, for the few times I've needed these hands-on treatments, the number of sessions required always came out to be less than predicted. Instead of having some needless sessions, it was possible to save the unused sessions still allowed by the original prescription.

These could come in handy after a particularly hard day of trekking around some salon in winter in Paris, collecting a couple of kilos of useless brochures. A little visit for a session with the 'kiné' would iron out the kinks.

If I remember correctly, an average session cost 25 francs; and a lot of this would be reimbursed after a series of sessions. Having a crook back restored to comfort is priceless.

I'm sure there are people around who abuse the service of these professionals, but my experience has been that treatments are so soothing that I wouldn't mind having a prescription for a years' worth of sessions.

Today, the Jewish Martyrs Memorial Committee will be assisting at a ceremony which will rename the Rue du Grenier-sur-l'Eau as the Allée des Justes.

This is part of a large state project, supported by the city and the region - to cost 80 million francs - to enlarge the Centre d'Etude et de Recueillement Sur la Shoa - which also seems to be named the 'Mémorial du Martyr Juif Inconnu' - in the 4th arrondissement.

For the project, the 20 inhabitants of the buildings at 12 and 14 Rue du Pont-Louis-Philippe, have been relocated elsewhere in city housing.

However, the Grenier-sur-l'Eau restaurant, located at 14. Rue du Pont-Louis-Philippe, has been offered the location of the shop located at 3. Rue du Pont-Louis-Philippe.

For 25 years this has been the prestigious photo gallery of Agathe Gaillard. Last June she received an eviction notice to quit the premises at the end of December.

The property company that has been given the delicate job of assembling the property for the memorial, for relocating the residents and offering new premises to the restaurant, does not have an easy task.

Apparently this restaurant is a favorite of Ville de Paris councilors and higher administrators. In Gault-Millau's guide of 1988 the restaurant had a rating of 12 out of 20, 'coeur de rumsteak' was recommended and its elaborate decor was a 'merveille.'

After a three hour meeting on Thursday evening, the members of the RPR Federation of Paris voted overwhelmingly to suspend Mayor of Paris' Jean Tiberi from its membership.

Upon arriving at the meeting, Mr. Tiberi pronounced three words, "Tristesse et douleur."

During the tense meeting, voting began with the leaders of the RPR in Paris who polled 69 to 3 for expulsion. Ordinary members of the party were then called upon to vote, which they did; with 192 for exclusion and 36 against.