Skiers take to Paris streets amid travel chaos

PARIS - Skiers swished down the hilly streets of Montmartre in Paris on Wednesday, taking advantage of heavy snowfall that otherwise spelled misery for thousands of travelers.

Nearly 2,000 people in the Paris region had to spend Tuesday night in their cars, after the snow caused traffic jams that stretched a record 740 kilometers and left hundreds of others stuck at airports and train stations.

The icy roads of Paris were unusually quiet after 12 centimeters was dumped on the French capital overnight, with up to 20 cm reported in nearby suburbs and rural areas.