Looking at the Dog Days of Summer in France

These dogs on patrol turned out to be aoûtiens Photo ©2003 Ann James Massey
These dogs on patrol turned out to be aoûtiens Photo ©2003 Ann James Massey
Crates still need to be guarded in August. Photo ©2003 Ann James Massey
Crates still need to be guarded in August.
Photo ©2003 Ann James Massey

By French law, everyone in France gets 5 weeks minimum paid vacation on top of a myriad of holidays. The largest chunk of that vacation time is the sacrosanct 3 weeks to a month in July through August when the residents flee the heat of the cities for the countryside or the beaches. The majority of Parisians are traditionally aoûtiens (August vacationers) as opposed to juillestistes who leave in July. Not sure what they call those who are gone between the 15th of each month…the ponteurs (bridgemen)?

Also by mandate, a few of the small businesses like boulangeries (bakeries), boucheries (butcher shops) et. al, within a certain block radii must be juilletistes or have replacements so that those who stay behind can still shop in their district, besides at the local grocery stores.

Naturally, even French work dogs get their time off. I took these photos from our kitchen window of the metro repair yard (now replaced with a new building) just behind one of our building’s courtyards.

Two weeks later. Hmm, so even stuffed toy dogs eventually lie down on the job in August. Was it the heat or the stress? Note the cup of coffee...very French toy dog. Photo ©2003 Ann James Massey
Two weeks later. Hmm, so even stuffed toy dogs eventually lie down on the job in August.
Was it the heat or the stress? Note the cup of coffee…very French toy dog.
Photo ©2003 Ann James Massey

© 2022 Ann James Massey, SWA, CPSA, UKCPS, AAPL

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