Standing on the Champs Elysees

We arrived back into Paris on Saturday night 25th July. The train trip was 3 hours and very very fast! (Would have taken about 7 hours to drive!) Travelling from the train station to our hotel (by Taxi) was very very exciting, and in some ways the highlight of our week in Paris. Looking out the window at all the bright lights and buzzing city was exciting, and I had that feeling of 'I'm in Paris!' Our apartment was quite small, but in a good spot and we could see the Eiffel Tower all lit up at night, which I thought was special.

Sunday was the final day of Le Tour de France and the only day of the year that the Champs Elysees is closed, so Paris was looking quite different. We headed off early, leaving Grandad behind because he was quite unwell with the flu. He was quite happy to rest and watch 'the Tour' on TV, but our TV ended up being dodgy so I don't think he even got to see it, so that was a bit sad. Meanwhile, the rest of us were out walking the streets of Paris, and very typical Parisian Streets they were.

{One thing I will always remember about Paris is that it has no (well hardly any) right-angles! This is a very typical corner building!}

It took us about 30 minutes to reach the Place de la Concorde, and when we got there it was all happening. People waiting around, getting their spots ready for the bikes to come through. It was so cool seeing all the roads closed, which meant major streets had no cars on them.

{There are so many different views of the Eiffel Tower, and you can see it from so many different places, but in so many ways it looks the same no matter where you are looking at it from}

{There are statues & massive impressive buildings all over Paris - I actually think there are nearly too many, which makes it a bit overwhelming}

We walked along the Champs Elysees until we found a good spot to watch the race. It was still like 4 - 5 hours until the riders would come through, but all the barrier spots were taken. So we chose some nice looking people to stand behind! They were really kind and let us squish in when it all 'started happening!' Everyone is pretty relaxed for the first few hours, sitting down, reading etc. Mick stayed put most of the time, to keep our spot while Mum and I did rounds with the kids. After a while Mum took the girls off on her own and was sent with some money to buy them something from the Disney Shop! They got a bit spoilt on this trip, but I guess they deserved it because they didn't really care too much for old buildings and impressive statues! They were pretty well behaved when we were out and about, but getting ready in the mornings was always a bit of a struggle and always seemed to be when their tiredness showed.

*The grand finale of the ultimate stage of the Tour de France is a spectacular show and a supreme honour and triumph for the riders who have succeeded in avoiding all the traps and difficulties of a three week long race. The city of Paris is the most beautiful location imaginable set with monuments and sites of incomparable beauty - the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Rue de Rivoli, and the Champs-Elysees. * Taken from Le Tour de France Website

As soon as things 'started happening' the crowd began to move in. First the Caravan came through (all the advertises and team cars etc) and about 1 - 2 hours later the riders finally came through. They ride up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triumph 8 times, so you get to see them pass by 16 times (up and then back down on the other side) and they are going at a fair speed. Lani stayed with us for most of it and Mum kept Emily occupied, (which made it much easier just having to worry about one). Lani fell asleep for the best part and woke up on about their 5th lap. The sun was shining right on us at this stage and it was getting really hot, and I was about sick of people pushing me in the back and leaning on us so I was outta there! Mick, of course, stayed until the final lap - which meant we actually missed seeing the sprint finish cause it was a few hundred metres down the track and around the corner, but I guess that's how it works when you are there! It was about 5pm at this stage, but we decided to walk down and watch some of the presentation ceremony on the big screen - we were right there, but couldn't see because of the crowd, so had to watch the screen! It was all very exciting, especially seeing Lance Armstrong looking so unhappy with 3rd place! (Sorry, that sounds a bit mean, but... if you read all the goings on in this years race inside Team Astana, you would understand!!) Unfortunately at this stage the kids were really over it all and squirming wanting to go, so we didn't stay long. To be honest I think we were all exhausted! So we walked home and crashed... still feeling quite pumped from all the excitement of a 'can't believe we were actually there day!'

{Team Columbia, which has 2 Australians in it (Mark Renshaw and Michael Rogers) - the whole team are riding for Mark Cavendish here, the 6 stage winner, including the last stage}

{Lance Armstrong in the middle of the picture - with the pink wheels and black helmet}

{Waiting patiently as Daddy checks out the teams doing their laps of honour. We missed this really, because we had started heading home, and didn't realise they would be doing it. Probably could have stayed another 2 hours really, but the kids needed to get home!}

{Mick feeling pretty happy!!}