Are you familiar with the French president? Probably so, but if not, let me introduce you, because he is quite a character, with an interesting backstory. And he did something last week which I consider to be amazingly courageous.
Not everyone is a fan of course, but we are big admirers. He is handsome, elegant, articulate, the youngest President in French history, and sly as a fox. His English is excellent. One journalist who spent a week with him for an article, said, “He could charm a chair.” After all, he did seduce his high school teacher when he was 15 years old, who was 24 years his senior, and who eventually left her husband to marry him. He and Brigitte have been married 14 years, and by all reports he is a good step-father to her three children (who are sort of his age). He founded his own centrist political party En Marche (roughly, “on the move”, or “let’s get working”).
So about that courageous act. The Delta variant is hitting us all hard again, but no western world leader has, as far as I know, definitively required the population to get the vaccine. In France, there plenty of anti-vaxxers, mostly not duped by conspiracies like in the States, but instead they are more often holistic types who worry about the health effects of Covid vaccines (but not Covid, the disease! Go figure).
So the Prez took a different tact.You don’t have to get the vaccine, he said, but he decreed that if you want to go to a bar or a restaurant or a concert or a movie, it’s required. Or to get on a bus, plane, or train, or to visit any cultural attraction. And the French, as you might imagine, are quite attached to their restos and cafés, not to mention their trains and leisure activities.
Here’s the joke circulating in France on Twitter. Two Frenchmen talking:
—You getting the vaccine?
—No way.
—You could die.
—I don’t give a $*#*!
—You can’t go to a restaurant.
—Right arm or left?
Macron revealed his new program in a televised speech. There is one central site in France to book vaccines, and appointments had been waning; But before his speech was over they were booking 20,000 appointments a MINUTE, briefly overwhelming the site. The next day, they set a record: a million appointments in one day.
The French often surprise me with their cleverness. This is one of those times. World leaders, take note! Maybe you can't require the vaccine, but you can sure make it uncomfortable not to get it.
In the COMMENTS:Debbie, there could be no more beautiful place for a passeggiata than St Jean. Unless it’s the romantic Verona, Michaela, where we’ve done a bit of strolling too. Natalia, hope you can keep up your flaneur-ing. Marilyn needs a Dijon hotel recommendation and activities, does anyone have some to share?
Favorite READS: My friend Athlyn loaned me her copy of The Only Street in Paris, Life on the Rue des Martyrs, by Elaine Sciolino, about one woman's life in the heart. Warning: Do not read unless you're planning a trip to Paris, or you may have to jump on a plane.
42 thoughts on “The Magical Mr. Macron”
I am curious if they will accept our USA vaccination cards if we travel to France in late September.
I am curious if they will accept our USA vaccination cards if we travel to France in late September.
I am curious if they will accept our USA vaccination cards if we travel to France in late September.
We flew into Paris from the US a few days ago. All the passport control wanted to see was our passports and CDC vaccination cards. No problem. There is talk now about pharmacies being able to set up the US cards on the French Pass Sanitaire. We going to talk to our local pharmacist about it.
We flew into Paris from the US a few days ago. All the passport control wanted to see was our passports and CDC vaccination cards. No problem. There is talk now about pharmacies being able to set up the US cards on the French Pass Sanitaire. We going to talk to our local pharmacist about it.
We flew into Paris from the US a few days ago. All the passport control wanted to see was our passports and CDC vaccination cards. No problem. There is talk now about pharmacies being able to set up the US cards on the French Pass Sanitaire. We going to talk to our local pharmacist about it.
I saw the protests by the French claiming they are living in a dictatorship ( because of this mandate) and my friends have sent me the jokes circulating about this absurd claim, one showing the North Korean leader laughing with his generals about the French living under a dictatorship.
The US couldn’t even hope to adopt such a reasonable approach. Many Businesses are too chicken and our government leaders thrive on partisan divide so they actually add to the problem. Fox News calls the world’s greatest expert Dr Fauci names and scoffs at the vaccine. When you think that a good 50% of Americans listen only to Fox you see the problem.
I applaud the French Maybe it’s because of the sheer size of our country but I can’t see this country following such a rationale and smart solution to these anti-vacers. Honestly it’s depressing.
I saw the protests by the French claiming they are living in a dictatorship ( because of this mandate) and my friends have sent me the jokes circulating about this absurd claim, one showing the North Korean leader laughing with his generals about the French living under a dictatorship.
The US couldn’t even hope to adopt such a reasonable approach. Many Businesses are too chicken and our government leaders thrive on partisan divide so they actually add to the problem. Fox News calls the world’s greatest expert Dr Fauci names and scoffs at the vaccine. When you think that a good 50% of Americans listen only to Fox you see the problem.
I applaud the French Maybe it’s because of the sheer size of our country but I can’t see this country following such a rationale and smart solution to these anti-vacers. Honestly it’s depressing.
I saw the protests by the French claiming they are living in a dictatorship ( because of this mandate) and my friends have sent me the jokes circulating about this absurd claim, one showing the North Korean leader laughing with his generals about the French living under a dictatorship.
The US couldn’t even hope to adopt such a reasonable approach. Many Businesses are too chicken and our government leaders thrive on partisan divide so they actually add to the problem. Fox News calls the world’s greatest expert Dr Fauci names and scoffs at the vaccine. When you think that a good 50% of Americans listen only to Fox you see the problem.
I applaud the French Maybe it’s because of the sheer size of our country but I can’t see this country following such a rationale and smart solution to these anti-vacers. Honestly it’s depressing.
Biden should do the same…
All things being equal…we leave on Tuesday…See you Wednesday
A bientot, Patty
Biden should do the same…
All things being equal…we leave on Tuesday…See you Wednesday
A bientot, Patty
Biden should do the same…
All things being equal…we leave on Tuesday…See you Wednesday
A bientot, Patty
They are having the pass sanitaire in Italy too.
Why should we who have been vaccinated put ourselves at risk because others cannot be bothered or are either too lazy or too stupid to get vaccinated.
They are having the pass sanitaire in Italy too.
Why should we who have been vaccinated put ourselves at risk because others cannot be bothered or are either too lazy or too stupid to get vaccinated.
They are having the pass sanitaire in Italy too.
Why should we who have been vaccinated put ourselves at risk because others cannot be bothered or are either too lazy or too stupid to get vaccinated.
100% agree with Jane W
100% agree with Jane W
100% agree with Jane W
C’est une rêve, Lynn. If only here in the US. . . We are still extremely cautious. No restaurants, no stores (except one supermarket only a few times recently). We buy supplies contactless. And just when we thought it was waning, up popped the Delta and then the next variant. I did finally have a person to person visit with my French-speaking friend on her patio (also follows you, bien sûre). But we’re weary—as is the rest of the world for sure. Soldier on, Monsieur le Président. Stay well.
C’est une rêve, Lynn. If only here in the US. . . We are still extremely cautious. No restaurants, no stores (except one supermarket only a few times recently). We buy supplies contactless. And just when we thought it was waning, up popped the Delta and then the next variant. I did finally have a person to person visit with my French-speaking friend on her patio (also follows you, bien sûre). But we’re weary—as is the rest of the world for sure. Soldier on, Monsieur le Président. Stay well.
C’est une rêve, Lynn. If only here in the US. . . We are still extremely cautious. No restaurants, no stores (except one supermarket only a few times recently). We buy supplies contactless. And just when we thought it was waning, up popped the Delta and then the next variant. I did finally have a person to person visit with my French-speaking friend on her patio (also follows you, bien sûre). But we’re weary—as is the rest of the world for sure. Soldier on, Monsieur le Président. Stay well.
Chère Lynn
Très justes remarques sur Macron. Ça ne risque pas d’arriver aux USA ça serait considéré comme discrimination! Ah ah!
Hôtel sur Dijon les hôtels logis est une bonne chaîne d’hôtels celui qui est sur le parc de la Colombiere est super. Voilà! On croise les doigts pour septembre. Espère vous voir peut être en octobre?? Francine
Chère Lynn
Très justes remarques sur Macron. Ça ne risque pas d’arriver aux USA ça serait considéré comme discrimination! Ah ah!
Hôtel sur Dijon les hôtels logis est une bonne chaîne d’hôtels celui qui est sur le parc de la Colombiere est super. Voilà! On croise les doigts pour septembre. Espère vous voir peut être en octobre?? Francine
Chère Lynn
Très justes remarques sur Macron. Ça ne risque pas d’arriver aux USA ça serait considéré comme discrimination! Ah ah!
Hôtel sur Dijon les hôtels logis est une bonne chaîne d’hôtels celui qui est sur le parc de la Colombiere est super. Voilà! On croise les doigts pour septembre. Espère vous voir peut être en octobre?? Francine
As always, I applaud you Lynn for your creativity and civil honesty in all matters. I, too, think Mr. Macron is a wonderful leader and wish our country could be more like France in health care, civility, friendliness and honesty. Bravo!!!
As always, I applaud you Lynn for your creativity and civil honesty in all matters. I, too, think Mr. Macron is a wonderful leader and wish our country could be more like France in health care, civility, friendliness and honesty. Bravo!!!
As always, I applaud you Lynn for your creativity and civil honesty in all matters. I, too, think Mr. Macron is a wonderful leader and wish our country could be more like France in health care, civility, friendliness and honesty. Bravo!!!
That is GREAT!! Oh yes, we wish we we could do that in the USA…
That is GREAT!! Oh yes, we wish we we could do that in the USA…
That is GREAT!! Oh yes, we wish we we could do that in the USA…
I admire him from afar. I’ve liked him from the beginning. I wish it could be that way here. I hope you are doing well Lynn. X
I admire him from afar. I’ve liked him from the beginning. I wish it could be that way here. I hope you are doing well Lynn. X
I admire him from afar. I’ve liked him from the beginning. I wish it could be that way here. I hope you are doing well Lynn. X
Lynn, thank you for your insight, and always, your objectivity.
Everything changes and(sigh) nothing changes fast enough
We just have to keep moving,(hopefully forward)
and counting on improvement.
I am determined to let optimism prevail.
I am seventy five, and at my stage of the game ,there are definitely more days behind than ahead.Every morning, noon and night I tell myself to make each one count.
Lynn, thank you for your insight, and always, your objectivity.
Everything changes and(sigh) nothing changes fast enough
We just have to keep moving,(hopefully forward)
and counting on improvement.
I am determined to let optimism prevail.
I am seventy five, and at my stage of the game ,there are definitely more days behind than ahead.Every morning, noon and night I tell myself to make each one count.
Lynn, thank you for your insight, and always, your objectivity.
Everything changes and(sigh) nothing changes fast enough
We just have to keep moving,(hopefully forward)
and counting on improvement.
I am determined to let optimism prevail.
I am seventy five, and at my stage of the game ,there are definitely more days behind than ahead.Every morning, noon and night I tell myself to make each one count.
Hi Lynn:
Great insight, thank you. It’s been a tough road for everyone, and the answers are not easy. Your point about the French being more holistic in their approach to healthcare rings true, and makes sense. Yes, appealing to their desire to return to somewhat normal life is fine, but coersion is not, under any circumstances.
I must take exception to the comment about the non-vaccinated being stupid and/or lazy. There are any number of legitimate reasons for someone not being jabbed, NONE of which have to do with being “anti-vax” or watching Fox news (other comment). We are neither, and have so far not got the shot. For my husband, who had a very bad reaction to the last vaccine he took, this is a serious consideration, which we do not take lightly. Another friend with MS has been advised by her neurologist not to get the shot. We have not, nor will not, put anyone else at risk no matter what, and our behaviour reflects that. The fact that not everyone behaves responsibly is the real issue, and that is human nature. But why should we be punished/discrimiated against/called stupid or selfish?
Anyone who thinks that forcing people to accept a procedure that may be harmful to them in order to “protect others” should think twice about how many ways that practice and rationale can be misused and abused. Thankfully it will never happen in the US, nor should it. If you’re OK with being forbidden to participate in “normal” activities unless and until you comply, then you should move to France or Italy or one of other countries.
Looking back to the 1918 Flu pandemic tells us that we’ve not progressed very much, that pandemics do and will continue to occur, and that we will likely be living with covid in some form going forward, just like the ever-changing annual flu, for which there is still not a wholly effective shot. The best prevention is spotting it when it hits and reacting swiftly, early and with all the necessary resources. We’ve proved we can do that with SARS and with Ebola. Nearly every country missed the boat on this one, and we can only hope this lesson is never, ever forgot.
Wishing everyone good health, safe travels, and understanding for others.
Hi Lynn:
Great insight, thank you. It’s been a tough road for everyone, and the answers are not easy. Your point about the French being more holistic in their approach to healthcare rings true, and makes sense. Yes, appealing to their desire to return to somewhat normal life is fine, but coersion is not, under any circumstances.
I must take exception to the comment about the non-vaccinated being stupid and/or lazy. There are any number of legitimate reasons for someone not being jabbed, NONE of which have to do with being “anti-vax” or watching Fox news (other comment). We are neither, and have so far not got the shot. For my husband, who had a very bad reaction to the last vaccine he took, this is a serious consideration, which we do not take lightly. Another friend with MS has been advised by her neurologist not to get the shot. We have not, nor will not, put anyone else at risk no matter what, and our behaviour reflects that. The fact that not everyone behaves responsibly is the real issue, and that is human nature. But why should we be punished/discrimiated against/called stupid or selfish?
Anyone who thinks that forcing people to accept a procedure that may be harmful to them in order to “protect others” should think twice about how many ways that practice and rationale can be misused and abused. Thankfully it will never happen in the US, nor should it. If you’re OK with being forbidden to participate in “normal” activities unless and until you comply, then you should move to France or Italy or one of other countries.
Looking back to the 1918 Flu pandemic tells us that we’ve not progressed very much, that pandemics do and will continue to occur, and that we will likely be living with covid in some form going forward, just like the ever-changing annual flu, for which there is still not a wholly effective shot. The best prevention is spotting it when it hits and reacting swiftly, early and with all the necessary resources. We’ve proved we can do that with SARS and with Ebola. Nearly every country missed the boat on this one, and we can only hope this lesson is never, ever forgot.
Wishing everyone good health, safe travels, and understanding for others.
Hi Lynn:
Great insight, thank you. It’s been a tough road for everyone, and the answers are not easy. Your point about the French being more holistic in their approach to healthcare rings true, and makes sense. Yes, appealing to their desire to return to somewhat normal life is fine, but coersion is not, under any circumstances.
I must take exception to the comment about the non-vaccinated being stupid and/or lazy. There are any number of legitimate reasons for someone not being jabbed, NONE of which have to do with being “anti-vax” or watching Fox news (other comment). We are neither, and have so far not got the shot. For my husband, who had a very bad reaction to the last vaccine he took, this is a serious consideration, which we do not take lightly. Another friend with MS has been advised by her neurologist not to get the shot. We have not, nor will not, put anyone else at risk no matter what, and our behaviour reflects that. The fact that not everyone behaves responsibly is the real issue, and that is human nature. But why should we be punished/discrimiated against/called stupid or selfish?
Anyone who thinks that forcing people to accept a procedure that may be harmful to them in order to “protect others” should think twice about how many ways that practice and rationale can be misused and abused. Thankfully it will never happen in the US, nor should it. If you’re OK with being forbidden to participate in “normal” activities unless and until you comply, then you should move to France or Italy or one of other countries.
Looking back to the 1918 Flu pandemic tells us that we’ve not progressed very much, that pandemics do and will continue to occur, and that we will likely be living with covid in some form going forward, just like the ever-changing annual flu, for which there is still not a wholly effective shot. The best prevention is spotting it when it hits and reacting swiftly, early and with all the necessary resources. We’ve proved we can do that with SARS and with Ebola. Nearly every country missed the boat on this one, and we can only hope this lesson is never, ever forgot.
Wishing everyone good health, safe travels, and understanding for others.
Thank you, Laura, for your respectful comment, unlike most others above. My husband and I have not been vaccinated either and it is not for selfish reasons, nor are we stupid! A very close family friend with ALS has been advised not to get the shot. His doctor truly believes that a flu vaccine he received is a contributor to his condition now.
I am not a believer in big pharma and adding chemicals and/or foreign elements into my body for any reason if at all avoidable. I do not trust that this vaccine has been proven as it is way too new. This is only my opinion though. I don’t even like to take a Tylenol for a headache. If I get a cold, I take herbal and/or homeopathic remedies that are natural as opposed to more chemicals that very often cause other issues down the road.
I would never condemn anyone who has opted to get the shot, nor anyone that decides not to. It is everyone’s choice whether to be vaccinated or not. I have many family and friends that are on opposite end of the spectrum, and I wholeheartedly stand behind their decisions. It’s a shame that some people cannot respect others for doing what they feel is best.
Hoping the world will get through this with kindness and respect for all. Cheers to good health for all!
Thank you, Laura, for your respectful comment, unlike most others above. My husband and I have not been vaccinated either and it is not for selfish reasons, nor are we stupid! A very close family friend with ALS has been advised not to get the shot. His doctor truly believes that a flu vaccine he received is a contributor to his condition now.
I am not a believer in big pharma and adding chemicals and/or foreign elements into my body for any reason if at all avoidable. I do not trust that this vaccine has been proven as it is way too new. This is only my opinion though. I don’t even like to take a Tylenol for a headache. If I get a cold, I take herbal and/or homeopathic remedies that are natural as opposed to more chemicals that very often cause other issues down the road.
I would never condemn anyone who has opted to get the shot, nor anyone that decides not to. It is everyone’s choice whether to be vaccinated or not. I have many family and friends that are on opposite end of the spectrum, and I wholeheartedly stand behind their decisions. It’s a shame that some people cannot respect others for doing what they feel is best.
Hoping the world will get through this with kindness and respect for all. Cheers to good health for all!
Thank you, Laura, for your respectful comment, unlike most others above. My husband and I have not been vaccinated either and it is not for selfish reasons, nor are we stupid! A very close family friend with ALS has been advised not to get the shot. His doctor truly believes that a flu vaccine he received is a contributor to his condition now.
I am not a believer in big pharma and adding chemicals and/or foreign elements into my body for any reason if at all avoidable. I do not trust that this vaccine has been proven as it is way too new. This is only my opinion though. I don’t even like to take a Tylenol for a headache. If I get a cold, I take herbal and/or homeopathic remedies that are natural as opposed to more chemicals that very often cause other issues down the road.
I would never condemn anyone who has opted to get the shot, nor anyone that decides not to. It is everyone’s choice whether to be vaccinated or not. I have many family and friends that are on opposite end of the spectrum, and I wholeheartedly stand behind their decisions. It’s a shame that some people cannot respect others for doing what they feel is best.
Hoping the world will get through this with kindness and respect for all. Cheers to good health for all!