Bit of a gruelling trip - nearly 1000 miles of driving from Hull - Paris and
back through the Tunnel. Still, no traffic jams anywhere, even on the M25
and the Paris ring road. Parking was no problem due to underground Novotel
car park . The GPS was invaluable as well, having only female map readers to
hand ;-)
Sunday afternoon we strolled leisurely to the Champ Elysees. Of course,
every vantage point was taken so watched most of the action on the big
screen on the Place de la Concorde. Just about saw the riders as they sped
past through fleeting gaps in the crowd. Couldn't expect daughters to wait
45 minutes for the final 30 odd km of riding, so headed back to watch the
presentation in the hotel on France 2.
Still, saw all the major contenders and soaked up the atmosphere, although
if I was organising it I would erect lots of temporary stands so more people
could see. Even if it was only stepped banking. Seemed stupid that only a
handful of the crowd could see any action unless they had camped out all
day. I'm fairly tall so I could at least see something but there were loads
of kids who saw nothing at all.
Anyone who tried to climb onto a vantage point like a tree was usually asked
to come down by the police. I'm sure people would pay a few Euros to sit in
a temporary stand rather than watch the action on a large TV which they
could have seen in their own front room.
--
Simon Mason
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net