Thank you for joining this weekly meme. Grab a copy of the photo above and link back to An Accidental Blog. Share with the rest of us your passion for France. Did you read a good book set in France? See a movie? Take a photo in France? Have an adventure? Eat a fabulous meal or even just a pastry? Or if you're in France now, go ahead and lord it over the rest of us. We can take it.
The first week of the tour was a little disappointing.
The start was scenic with Mont St. Michel in the background, but the bicyclists ended up clogged at the starting line, as no one had figured out how to get all the riders into that little circle in front of Mont St. Michel so that they could begin the race.
Friday, the pace picked up and Saturday, the riders arrived in the Pyrenees, where you know the action will increase. Just the vertigo of spinning down the mountains with the riders excites me, not to mention the beauty of the ragged green mountains, the green pools formed by melting snows, and the patches of snow that remain.
The people watching the Tour are crazy too. I tell my husband that next year I'll get him a Speedo bikini suit to wear while watching the tour alongside the route. People dress up in costumes. They wear crazy wigs and wave giant flags.
On Saturday, a costumed man ran alongside the riders as they struggled to climb a mountain. Chris Froome, the winner of last year's tour and the favorite for this year, reached out with his fist and clocked the guy in the side of the head. I can't blame him. The fans are a bit crazy. They need to give the riders room to ride.
This year, on July 12, the route goes through the area where we plan to move next year -- Languedoc.
We'll be eagerly anticipating the release of next year's map to see which part of the country we can travel to and see the tour ourselves -- with or without a Speedo.
I'm also linking to Paris in July. Hope you'll play along with both Dreaming of France and Paris in July. We can't have too much France love, right?
13 comments:
The Tour de France! I've been so wrapped up in Wimbledon, i'd completely missed it!
My post for today's Dreaming of France meme should have your ears burning. It's my take on your latest, Paris Runaway. SPOILER ALERT! I loved it:)
Here’s my Dreaming of France post
Sim, Your review blew me away. Sincere thanks.
I'll wave to you on the 13th, when the Tour de France passes directly in front of my house when it leaves Carcassonne. It will be impossible to do anything that day--the roads are blocked from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. With no A/C, the windows are open and the activity will make it impossible to work. On the other hand, we are well-placed to catch handouts from the sponsor parade that precedes the riders.
It is a puzzling étape--usually the riders leave early in the day, but they depart from Carcassonne at 2 p.m., which means they are going to ride 162 kms in utter heat. It has been around 100 degrees F every day.
Francetaste, It sounds like a major inconvenience, but what fun to be part of the chaos for one day. Strange that they are leaving so late in the day. Can't wait to watch!
I've linked a cycling post. Not quite as challenging as Le Tour, but we had some issues to cope with.
Paulita your excitement shines right through, you will love your life in france
I love Le Tour as well. Sadly my work has stopped me watching too much so far this year- it's broadcast up to 2am in Australia, those time zones are ferocious. I could be watching right now, but it's the rest day.... I did see Froome's win on Saturday (night here). I like the Pyrenees more than the Alps I think. I vividly remember standing on the Rue de Rivoli in 2013 watching the final laps- so exciting.
And Sim it's not over! There's two weeks to go...
Jacqui, I'm so glad you posted your cycling link to go with mine!
Roz, Yes, I'm really looking forward to our life in France.
Louise, We tape the Tour so we can watch it on our schedule. It's on at 7 a.m. to noon most days here. Thanks for joining in.
You make The TDF sound so exciting - I love it!
I love the Tour and sit biting my nails waiting for the spring or the breakaway! It's my very, very favorite! Right now I'm poaching internet but I fear next week I'll miss most/all of it and that TOTALLY distresses me!
That photo from cycling tips showing people parked on that precipitious slope -- scares the heck out of me!
We were into cycling for a while but haven't watched the Tour in years. I love the photo in the Pyrenees. I'm not sure I'd park my car on the side of that mountain!
Nadia, Thanks for playing along with Dreaming of France.
Jeanie, Hope you still get to see it.
Joy and Jeanie, You're right, that photo is sooo scary.
The people watching is rather crazy. We were in a restaurant last night and I think we were the only ones watching the tour.
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