Jim Bittermann

The trial of two of France’s biggest companies began Monday over the crash of Air France flight 447 in 2009 that killed 228 passengers and crew.

The streets of Paris are empty. The theaters and cinemas are dark. The cafes and restaurants shuttered. Museums closed. The parks and playgrounds deserted. The government has so ordered. Everyone you meet eyes you with suspicion. Is this the person who is going to infect me? Am I going to infect this person? Above all, the atmosphere here is very, very sad.

The streets of Paris are empty. The theaters and cinemas are dark. The cafes and restaurants shuttered. Museums closed. The parks and playgrounds deserted. The government has so ordered. Everyone you meet eyes you with suspicion. Is this the person who is going to infect me? Am I going to infect this person? Above all, the atmosphere here is very, very sad.

Nobody likes to hear that an old friend is “brain dead,” so perhaps it’s not surprising that France’s allies seem to be going through the seven stages of grief over Emmanuel Macron’s pronouncement last month that NATO is languishing.

Former French President Jacques Chirac, known for a carefully crafted “everyman” image but whose later years were dogged by allegations of corruption, has died at the age of 86.

Former French President Jacques Chirac, known for a carefully crafted “everyman” image but whose later years were dogged by allegations of corruption, has died at the age of 86.

I’m sure you’ve heard the old bromide attributed to Charles de Gaulle, who wondered how it was possible to govern a country like France, with its 246 different kinds of cheese.

‘No one is in charge here’: How yellow vest protests spread, and why Macron’s struggling to keep up

Emmanuel Macron’s climbdown from his economic ambitions in the wake of the yellow vest protests may be matched with an even more damaging political descent.

Emmanuel Macron’s climbdown from his economic ambitions in the wake of the yellow vest protests may be matched with an even more damaging political descent.

The French strikes, whether right or wrong, leave the impression that the country is a difficult place to do business.

The French strikes, whether right or wrong, leave the impression that the country is a difficult place to do business.

CNN’s Jim Bittermann goes aboard one of the final flights of Air France’s iconic 747 jumbo jets, which are making way for more efficient airliners.

CNN’s Jim Bittermann goes aboard one of the final flights of Air France’s iconic 747 jumbo jets, which are making way for more efficient airliners.

CNN’s Jim Bittermann says goodbye as Air France retires its fleet of iconic Boeing 747s, a jet that changed air travel when it first entered service in 1970.

CNN’s Jim Bittermann says goodbye as Air France retires its fleet of iconic Boeing 747s, a jet that changed air travel when it first entered service in 1970.

In sunnier times the French called it joie de vivre – a carefree joy of life. Millions come here looking for it; but these are not sunnier times.

Yes it’s hard work, but there’s a reason this Bordeaux vineyard pulls them in -- the wine

Yes it’s hard work, but there’s a reason this Bordeaux vineyard pulls them in – the wine

Yes it’s hard work, but there’s a reason this Bordeaux vineyard pulls them in – the wine