Apprarently oriental masseuses have been cleaning up on the beaches of the French Riviera, at least until local red tape intervened. Teams of Chinese women have been massaging away in Cannes, Antibes and Juan-les-Pins last month, offering camphor oil massages for about €20. (Bargain at the price).
But...Michel Durand, head of the French Council of Masseurs and Physiotherapists (that'll be the local branch), demanded police intervention to stop what he described as unauthorised massages: “You can only practise massage in France if you have a state diploma and are registered with the local prefecture." And so, Police have begun chasing the masseuses away from the seafront after complaints from physios.
This all sounds like an amusing case of globalisation (low cost skilled labour) versus local protectionism.
I know that if I had been on one of the those beaches, I would have accepted a 20€ massage.
Posted by: meredith | August 20, 2007 at 02:15 PM
I saw this on the Tuscan coast this summer too!
Posted by: Figs Olives Wine | August 23, 2007 at 08:28 PM