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TRAVEL NEWS

P&O Ferries’ Dover-Calais services remain suspended

Ten days after their dramatic sacking of 800 UK-based staff, P&O Ferries has still not resumed its Dover/Calais services, with travellers advised to use other operators for trips between France and the UK.

Published: 21 March 2022 10:46 CET
Updated: 28 March 2022 15:10 CEST
P&O Ferries' Dover-Calais services remain suspended
Protests outside P&O offices in Dover. Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP

The company suspended all services, including its Dover/Calais route, on Thursday, March 17th, shortly before the announcement that it had fired 800 of its UK-based seafaring staff.

On Monday, March 28th, services on the Dover/Calais route had not resumed, with no date given for when the route may reopen.

READ ALSO Why did P&0 Ferries axe UK jobs but keep its French workers?

For customers travelling on Irish or Dutch routes services are simply cancelled, but anyone with tickets booked on the Dover/Calais route is advised to turn up at the port as planned.

Once there, they should head to the check-in booths of rival ferry company DFDS and, says P&O, alternative services will be arranged.

Passengers are reminded that face masks are compulsory on DFDS ferries, as well in all public transport hubs and on services in France.

READ ALSO How to travel between France and the UK without P&O Ferries

 
The 800 UK-based jobs will be replaced with foreign staff who are not covered by British minimum wage legislation, although P&O employees based in France and the Netherlands have so far not been affected by the moves.

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TOURISM

What to know when visiting France’s lavender fields this summer

Known affectionately as 'blue gold,' France’s lavender fields are a popular tourist attraction every year. Here is what you need to know about visiting them:

Published: 24 May 2022 12:29 CEST
What to know when visiting France's lavender fields this summer

Lavender is the “soul of Provence,” the French region where the fields can be found. Like wine, lavender was brought to France around 2,000 years ago by the Romans. The flower is the emblem of ‘Haute Provence’ regional identity, though the fields stretch from just outside of Nice almost all the way up to Valence, and they are not fully exclusive to France.

Even the washerwomen, those whose job it was to clean clothes and linen, were referred to as les lavandières in France. 

The flowers, which can be found mainly in two species in Provence, have several uses – as oils for cooking and bathing, as a perfume for soaps, and even as an antiseptic for healing wounds and scars.

The lavender essential oil that comes from Provence is even an AOP (L’Appellation d’origine protégée) in France. 

When is the best time to see the fields?

Typically, the lavender flowers from around mid-June to early-to-mid August. However, depending on the weather, especially if there is a drought or hotter temperatures, the lavender might flower sooner than normal, which is likely the case for this year.

This is unfortunately also a side effect of climate change, which might be pushing up the lavender flowering season.

Where should I go?

The Valensole plateau is perhaps the most famous place to go for lavender fields. Speckled with several small Provencal towns, the area is beautiful, with a mountainous backdrop in the distance. If you go here, you might also be able to see the sunflower fields too.

Sault is perhaps a bit less known, partially because due to its altitude, the lavender typically flowers a bit later.

It is still a great place to go see the fields, and every year the town hosts a Lavender Festival in August. Walking (or cycling) between the villages (Aurel, Saint-Trinit and Saint-Christol) is very manageable.

This is not too far from the Sénanque Abbey, a medieval 12th century abbey which is surrounded by lavender fields. You might notice some small stone houses called bories in the fields, which were historically used for field workers.

Luberon Valley is another location that comes highly recommended. In the area, there is a regional national park, home to rosé wines, castles (chateaux) and charming villages, like Gordes, a stunning hilltop village.

Here you can also find the Musée de la Lavande, if you are looking to learn more about harvesting, producing and distilling lavender, its industry, and some interesting regional history.

How to get there?

You can take a TGV train to Aix-en-Provence or Avignon, or rent a car. With a car, you can also enjoy the several scenic routes that allow you to see the fields from the roads.

What else is there to do while in the region?

The area is also known for its rosé wine, so you could take the opportunity to go visit some vineyards or spend some time wine-tasting. 

In the summer months, the south of France can get quite warm. If you are looking to go swimming or enjoy the water, the Gorges du Verdon are not too far away. Though a bit of a tourist hotspot, the canyon is a beautiful and a wonderful place for paddling along in a canoe.

If you’re a fan of hiking, you can always go for a (light) hike along the Ochre Trail near Roussillon. Here, there are two marked paths that will take you through sunset-colored red and yellow cliffs in an old quarry.

Words of Wisdom

Unless you have been given express permission, do not pick the lavender, as this is the farmer’s livelihood. You can always buy a bouquet from nearby souvenir shops for your photo shoots! 

Also, stick to the paths that exist to avoid trampling any crops, and of course do not litter in the fields. 

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