A lot of France, a little fishing

Dottie and I are back in Paris this week and brought our ace news team with us, including our eight grandchildren, and their parents. There are lots of things to cover here, including the Euro Cup soccer finals (we watched Italy beat Belgium 2-0, on local TV Monday night). Tickets to the matches cost a bucket full of euros, yet they are all virtually sold out.

Soccer hooligans of every nationality abound.

The Russians are on the verge of being kicked out of the tournament and their unruly fans are being expelled from France. The English team and its team are also being told to cool it.

But soccer fans are not the only agitated folks here. There is a huge pro-labor, anti-government protest going on across town as I write this report. Some streets are blocked, and tourists are warned to stay away.

The strife stems from an unpopular new law governing the length of the French work week.

This seems odd to us, because we tend to think that the Socialist government of Francoise Hollande is pro-labor. “Mais non!” Instead, the Air France pilots are on strike and we almost didn’t get here. The garbage workers are on strike, and the railroad workers are striking on and off. Most oil refineries were closed down and gas stations are short on fuel.

Many others are joining the labor actions and demonstrations, and yet Hollande seems determined not to cave in.

Perhaps it is the weather that made everyone cranky. May was a really bad month here. It rained most days. The Seine overflowed its banks.

It is finally back in its banks after overflowing from torrential rains last week. I was hoping to get some fly-fishing in from the front steps of our apartment here in the 17th Arrondissement, but the streets are dry again.

But the soccer matches are on. Huge public viewing spots have been set up around Paris so people can watch the matches on giant TV screens. Security is being stressed because the large public gatherings could be targeted by terrorists.

Paris, always an enchanting city to visit, has taken on an edginess that can either frustrate and possibly frighten you, or be just another part of its rich and colorful pageantry. We choose to believe the latter. Life goes on here in the “City of Lights.”

This morning, our grandkids are getting a French language and culture lesson from our Parisian friend, Elisabeth Sabatia. They will then embark on a big red “Hop-on/ Hop-off bus,” to become familiar with the sites.

Fortunately, the labor strife has not affected the restaurants and boulangeries. In fact, there is a law in France that bakery workers can never go on strike. The French have had this priority straight since Marie Antoinette said something like, “Let them eat cake,” and there wasn’t any to eat because the bakers were out in the street with the rest of the revolutionaries.

All hell may break loose, but as long as there are warm baguettes and croissants every morning, the French will manage and Paris is still Paris.

Meanwhile, fishing closer to Sonoma is still best off our coast where Capt. Rick Powers of Bodega Bay Sportsfishing is finding limits of rockfish, lingcod and Dungeness crab for his clients on every trip. Call Rick at 875-3344.

San Francisco Bay action took a slight downturn last week due to big minus tides, but is coming back strong this week. Halibut fishing is best off Paradise Park. Call Keith Fraser at Loch Lomond Bait Shop for the latest reports and to book a Bay party boat, 415 456-0321.

Lake Berryessa and Clear Lake bass fishing is good now. Check with Sweeney’s Sports in Napa for tips on where to fish.