Introducing a new tag for SNCF woes.

[cerealjoe]

Quand je te dis "Provence", tu penses à quoi? The thing most people don't associate with the PACA region (Provence - Alpes - Côte d'Azur) is very ineffective local train services. I think everyone thinks of blue skies and beaches... and yet for people who have to take a local train every day, PACA is synonym with having to check every single day, twice a day, if any of the trains are cancelled or late. I got into the car this morning and heard that the trains out of St. Charles were having some problems (third train that derailed in ten days in the region, thank goodness they were all empty)... luckily my train was on time in Cassis. Then this afternoon in Toulon, the train was half an hour late, when they're supposed to come every half hour! And the worst part is the lack of information and the fact that it happens daily. But hey, in a way, it's still better for me than driving every single day down to Toulon. But damn, I made it home way later today after already coming back at around 8pm yesterday. I was starving. I'll have to pack snacks from now on. Live and learn, live and learn. Oh, and speaking of other things we have... it's been one tomato-related dinner after another ever since I came back. Not that I'm complaining too much. And grapes. The grapes are finally ready, or almost!

Comments

[carnifinda.livejournal.com]

Provence = mon icône :)

[cerealjoe.livejournal.com]

C'est vrai, c'est vrai... faudrait que j'aille habiter plus à l'intérieur des terres un jour, on ne voit pas tellement de lavande par ici mais quand elle pousse c'est parti pour toute la vie!



[baciliors.livejournal.com]

Прикольно :) thanks Haivoron Ukrtelecom (http://haivoron.info/angl/)

[pnolan.livejournal.com]

Hi again, Gali! I love your food pictures!!! And hearing about your trip to Montreal, too.

I am finally catching up on my Friends Page after getting very busy suddenly. I got TWO new jobs, after being mostly unemployed the last two years, including one teaching a class to international students (adult immigrants to the U.S.)at the local Community College. Check this out: I have 21 students from 18 countries! Africa, Middle East, Eastern Europe, Dominican Republic, China, Burma, Cambodia, Viet Nam, Nepal and more. I'm loving it!

The Algerian guy said that the U.S. allows 55,000 legal immigrants every year. Does that sound like a lot? How about France?

[cerealjoe.livejournal.com]

I think the US allows as many illegal immigrants as it needs, even perhaps not enough. There is a whole parallel economy that's going on and if it weren't for it, the "real" economy wouldn't stand a chance... these illegal immigrants are treated quite badly in the US and the worst part is that their chance of actually getting somewhere in life isn't all that high. In France at least they have a small chance of getting proper papers and a better life although it is getting more and more difficult. I'm not quite sure about the figures but given the amount of people who are "brought back to the border" every single year I would say that the number of illegal immigrants arriving in France every year can also be counted by the dozen thousands.