Paris demonstration 1st hand experience

It was a crappy day weather wise when we were loafing around the outsides of the Louvre, contemplating whether the entry fee was worth paying. After deciding that no, it wasn't, we took a seat at the staircase of a hidden corner.

Suddenly J pipped out: Look, I see flags! That's probably where the demonstration* is!

I mean, we had seen several convoys of police cars, jeeps, trucks and buses. Like the one below, taken near Concorde.



Spirits higher, we walked out of the Louvre to the where the flags were spotted. Nothing. We turned to our right.

Sure enough, we could see some banners in the (near) distance.



Scattered all around were riot police, with polycarbonate shields on standby



Initially hesitant to go near (in case there was trouble and we would be rounded up and accused of nefarious activities), we grew bolder and began to move around, prepared to run as fast as possible at the first sign of trouble.

Eventualy we grew bored, entered the Metro and moved on towards our next destination.

*A series of demonstrations (and some which turned into riots) were held at various points from February to April in Paris, notably around Sorbonne, in protest of new employment laws