Le Tour de France

Hmm, it seems like there is quite a bit to say in this post. Paris wrapped up wonderfully and i was able to do quite a few things during the time i was there. Visiting the museums was wonderful, and it was refreshing to race around the city on my bike without any of the gear on it at all. I feel much more in my environment biking through cities than in the countryside for some reason - it's much more of a thrill. Spending time at the anarchist library was really great, and i was able to cook an Italian dinner for everyone one night. We all played the board game "Mae '68" which pits rioters and students against the police in the streets of Paris. Along with a couple of bottles of wine, i really enjoyed making bad jokes about french rioters with everyone and it was a memorable way to spend a night in Paris. I was able to spend some time on the Seine as well, mostly reading and walking along the beautiful water. Paris is known as 'the city of light', which seemed rather appropriate after seeing how beautiful everything is illuminated during the evenings there. I enjoyed Paris a great deal and i kind of wish that I was able to spend some more time there. Perhaps another trip.

I hopped on a train headed for Marseilles two days ago and arrived rather late at night to what seemed like a deserted train station. I biked a couple of kilometers to meet up with my next couchsurfer, daniel, who had offered me a place to stay for a few nights so I could see the races. Daniel grew up in Mexico city and is just finishing up his studies here in Marseilles with a focus on fluid dynamics(he says only crazy people decide to get PhDs in physics). Its been fun hanging out with him the evenings. Last night he had four more couchsurfers (two from Belgium, one from Chile, One from Italy) staying there as well, and we all cooked dinner together and talked for a while - quite an international group. I was lucky enough to sample both mexican and belgium chocolates for the first time too, as both Daniel and the girls form Belgium claimed their own variety was superior. Tonight we will all go to the city center to go dancing.

The Tour de France was spectacular, in all senses of the word. I got to the route a couple of hours before the cyclists arrived so i was able to get a spot right up against the barrier maybe 15 meters from the finish line. Being around so many bicycle enthusiasts and feeling the excitement build as we all watched the race on a huge projection screen was everything i thought it would be. There were lots of promotional giveaways before the riders arrived as well, with people on bikes and little motorcars throwing candy, water, coffee and everything else to people on the sidelines. When the riders did arrive for the final sprint, the energy of the crowd was amazing. It was the first time during this tour that a Frenchman won a stage, so everyone wanted to celebrate afterwards which lead to some free wine(magnifique) for me. Seeing the riders flash by in the final sprint was something else to say the least. This morning I woke up early again to see them ride off, although they were just doing the procession through the city so it wasnt quite as exciting. Overall I'm really glad I was able to see it all in person and it is something i will never forget.

Tomorrow I'm off to Barcelona to meet up with my friend David. I'll probably be there for a good week and am not sure about my exact plans for what i'll do afterwards. Maybe Madrid? Or Paris again? I have lots of photos from the race and will get them up sometime in the next couple of days. Anyways, enough typing - I'm off to the beach for a few hours!

Au revoir,
-i