La Tour

Last week due to some technical hitches, we were without internet for a week. We realise how much we have become dependent on this form of communication.

Last week was also the Tour de France in our neighbourhood. There was a lot of radio news (as we don’t have tv yet) about where the cyclists were. We just happened to be travelling in those areas, and of course in our own local town, Chalabre. For days beforehand you could see the preparations – trimming grass verges, road sweeping, cleaning windows, setting up barricades and arrows for the cyclists to take the right direction.

We were stopped by an official who was obviously selling something. In his very fast French he tried to sell me a flag and nougat for fundraising for the Tour. Of course I did not understand one single word, and obviously looked blank, so realising a potential customer could escape he said:

Madam, vous parlez francais? Me – un petit, petit peu

Ok – c’est la Tour de France... me – oui, d’accord

And then the spiel of fundraising, so for 8 euros I got a small French flag and a bar of nougat. The nougat is gone but the flag may be useful to show some sort of alliance with the new country!

We avoided most towns where they Tour was passing through like the plague, as everywhere the Tour was going to be on the day, the town/village/city was abuzz with no available parking, so many people camping out, sitting there drinking wine, eating snacks, baguettes, and other French delicacies.

This plan failed us when we had to make a phone call the afternoon in Chalabre – we knew it was a mistake when we had to park quite far from the centre of town. But like a trooper Wouter toddled off to the phone booth. People were still arriving by the car load parking further and further away each time.

Once the Tour has passed through, everything is packed up and within a few minutes you see no evidence it has been there at all. Until that night, when you walk along the streets and hear the tv’s going at full volume as people watch ‘sport’ to see if they see themselves on camera.

Following the Tour is a contingent of support vehicles, helicopters, caterers, entertainment, etc. So when they stop for the night they have a big marquee (or local hotel) and a night of fun and laughter.

So from our little apartment we could see exactly where the cyclists were in our area due to the helicopters above trying to get the best coverage and lots of cheering as they rode past people parked to get the best viewing place.