Everyone crowded under the plastic roofs over the market stalls and waited for it to subside. Then a hearty gust of wind would rattle the plastic roofs and water poured down on the people below, while the merchants tried to protect their product. The shoppers just rolled their eyes and waited for the downpour to stop. The French are patient.....
and even in the pouring rain, they still ride their bicycles.
And after the rain subsided...............
There were three demonstrations in the square today. There were two that were organized and appeared to be permitted. They had on neon vests and had speakers and some singing.
But there was a group of students, on the steps of the opera (which is really frowned on) who brought out the riot police. I think the students were responding to the organized protestors.
Gotta love the French - they ignored all the hoopla and just went about their business, walking around the ring of police who encircled the young demonstrators. The police were no nonsense, shoulder to shoulder, so none of the students could get away. And over by the cafés, the motorcycle police were posing for photos taken by Japanese tourists, and laughing.
They rounded the kids up in groups of 6 to 8 and led them away, quite casually actually, tightening their circle until all were gone; and then they got in their vans and drove off. The organized demonstrators continued for another hour and then marched off singing La Marseillaise. There has been a presence of police in front of the opera this afternoon, but tonight crowds of people are going in for the performance and the police are gone.
The Place de la Bastille is the site of the former Bastille Prison that was stormed by a mob on July 14, 1789, the beginning of the French Revolution. The green bronze statue in the center of the round-about is 52 metres high and topped by a gilded, winged Liberty. Its history makes Place de la Bastille a symbolic spot for political protest.
No comments:
Post a Comment