by Anne Swardson | Apr 17, 2020 | Uncategorized
By Anne Swardson “We are at war,” President Emmanuel Macron said at least six times in the Monday night address at which he announced an effective lockdown of the entire country. He meant against the coronavirus. But it’s becoming clear that the war is actually a... 
by Anne Swardson | Apr 16, 2020 | Uncategorized
By Anne Swardson Walking in my Paris neighborhood, permitted during the coronavirus lockdown under very limited circumstances, has taken on a strange choreography. People passing each other swerve to the building side or the curb side to keep the required one meter... 
by Anne Swardson | Apr 14, 2020 | Uncategorized
By Anne Swardson “They said we were an undisciplined country. But look how we respect these rules, these requirements, that are the most rigorous ever imposed on our people in peacetime.” So spoke President Emmanuel Macron last night as he announced an extension of... 
by Anne Swardson | Apr 10, 2020 | Uncategorized
By Anne Swardson I’ve written before about how sad it makes me to see, in my walks around Paris, posters of the things that will never happen. The movies, the plays, the concerts, the museum exhibitions. I realized the other day that spring flowers are also one of... 
by Anne Swardson | Apr 8, 2020 | Uncategorized
By Anne Swardson The government of France has recruited an unusual ally in its fight against coronavirus. More than 21,000 of them, in fact. I’m talking about pharmacies. I’d be surprised if there is another country where they play such a key role in everyday life. As... 
by Anne Swardson | Apr 4, 2020 | Uncategorized
By Anne Swardson More than 160,000 police officers will be deployed across France this weekend. They have a special mission: To keep French people from going on vacation. Vacation seems an odd concept now in a country where, to fight coronavirus, schools are closed,...