La Météo

Weather conditions in Nantes:

You'd THINK it snowed this much yesterday with the problems there were involving the public transportation system....

While the East Coast of the States was being hit with a record breaking blizzard, it was flurrying over here in France (even the word "flurrying" may be an exaggeration). Snow here, though, is incredibly rare (at least for the Pays de Loire region). So rare, in fact, that only in certain regions of France can you find tires that have the necessary traction for driving in snowy or icy conditions. For the months of November, December, and January, people in the colder regions change their tires as a precaution for wintery weather that may or may not come.

Thursday morning (02/11/10), students with early classes at IES or the University discovered that there was no available mode of transportation in the city. Some students walked and others with especially long commutes skipped their morning classes and waited until late morning when the bus and tram system was back in operation. The ice on the roads made it nearly impossible for traffic to flow normally, even though there was less than half an inch of snow and ice on the ground. The cars were sliding all over the streets and it was actually due to severe congestion that the buses and trams could not navigate the city, as they share roads and intersections with the little, helpless cars.

Many students here (including me) are used to much more intense, cold, and stormy weather.  We thought it was quite interesting, but also pathetic, that they were so unprepared for even the most minor of conditions.

And now, for an interesting fact!

It's been almost 2 years since the World's First Stretch Smart Car (Ferrari) was made!

 

It's called the "Smaaart"

I thought that was so punny!!

Construction Info & Stats (Very Interesting!)

Toodaroo (watch The Hangover if you haven't already, I beg of you)!
Monica