THE MASSES RETURN

Today is la rentrée, which is basically the start of the new school/work year in France (always the first week of September). This is when Paris re-starts after the hibernation of the summer (or summer masquerading as winter this year). Everyone is back at work after a long absence (typically 4 weeks - seriously the lab completely emptied out, and no-one blinks an eye.... they think its weird if you don't take at least a few weeks off) and there is a lot of kissing, holiday stories etc. The metro is busy again and there are lots more cars on the road. For me, I am still struggling with the concept that the new year doesn't start in January....