LE TOUR 2009: PARIS – Fin

21 Days, 4 Countries, 7 Mountain Ranges, 199 Riders from 20 Teams. But there can only be 1 winner.... This is the Amazing…[oops… wrong race]

.

This Is

‘Le Tour de France’

and the winner for 2009

is

PARIS

and YOU

and ME

and the ordinary folk

who took to the streets

to watch this amazing spectacle

OK maybe

ALBERTO CONTADOR too

So today The Final Stage of Le Tour concluded it’s relentless schedule

in the City of Light ..

Paris

Home to ‘La Tour Eiffel’

Coco Chanel

Montmartre

& 'La Moulin Rouge'

People came out in force

by any means available

to greet the riders

take refreshment

And line the Champs Elysees

To see the riders make their entrance

And the winner cross the line to victory

[Jacques Anquetil – 1964]

So here’s to

.

The winners of past

[Henry Pelissier – 1923]

[Maurice Francois Garin – 1903]

[Firmin Lambot – 1911 & 1913]

[Lance Armstrong – 1999 to 2005] [also seen here at Dumbwit Tellher]

[Eugene Christophe – 1919]

.

And

the new friendships

made along the way

So this is Julie from ‘Being Ruby’ signing off from ‘Le Tour’

Hope you have enjoyed the last 3 weeks

It’s been relentless, exhausting, exhilarating, and FUN

I will be sad to no longer have the steady measured voice of Phil Liggett to lull me into dreamland [Thanks Phil]. Nor the hypnotic flashing images of the French Countryside rolling by [Thanks to the People of France for hosting this great event in their wondrous backyard]. And finally THANKS to ALL OF YOU who came along for the ride, your comments are much appreciated. I hope you enjoyed some of this adventure.

.

So for one last time, BACK TO THE BOYS

.

Congratulations – Alberto Contador 1st

Sorry Cadel Evans It was not your year!

Yooo Hooo Lance Armstrong 3rd Looking Good. You are a freak of nature!

Watch out world – Mark Cavendish – is new in town!

.

FULL Standings and race details can be found [here]

IF you need to reminisce [here are the archived posts]

.

‘Le Tour’ Post Archives:

04-07-2009: [L'Histoire] And So It Begins

05-07-2009: [Stage 1] Monaco Style & Grace

06-07-2009: [Stage 2] Cote D’Azur

09-07-2009: [Stage 4] Provence [& Vincent]

11-07-2009: [Stage 7] Hola Espanol

14-07-2009: [Stage 9] Viva La France

20-07-2009: [Stage 15] OH Chateaux

24-07-2009: [Stage 18] The French Alps [& The Lakehouse]

26-07-2009: [Stage 21] Paris – Fin

.

Ciao JULIE

FIN

IMAGE CREDITS

Archival ‘Le Tour de France’ images: LeTour.fr, Paris Roof tops & Coco Chanel: Unknown [apologies], Paris Lightning: wikipedia.com, Montmartre: BeingRuby, Art By Toulouse Lautrec: Google images, Paris Archive Images: Parisimages.fr, wikipedia.com and Unknown [apologies], Paris Current Images: wikipedia.com, photobucket.com, Other: Mona Lisa, Eiffel Tower [lightening] – wikipedia.com, Lance Armstrong: Dishiness.com and also found at ‘Dumbwit Tellher’, For Archive Post Thumbnail credits: please see details from that post

BLACK & WHITE Sunday: It’s Time

Just a bit of silliness for a Sunday

.

It’s time!

Destination – Paris

Le Tour de France – Stage 21

.

Thank you for joining me on this Black & White Sunday

Hosted by ‘Anne Marie of Na-Da Farm Life’

.

and Thank You for all your lovely comments this week.

They are always appreciated

ciao JULIE

.

Image Source and Footnotes: Being Ruby

Thought I’d just have a little fun with various clock faces around my home. Some working, some not, some even without hands. Although it is not evident, I had to ‘de-crumple’ the hands on the top one when it took a swan dive off the wall. A bit temperamental that one! PS The arrow pointing to 'Paris' in the final image was a fluke! It is the bottom of the second hand sweeping round.

LE TOUR 2009: The French Alps!

Week 3 of ‘Le Tour’ and we are nearing the end of this yearly armchair adventure! This week has been an uphill battle, both on the real tour and behind the scenes [i.e. the dull, yet demanding worklife of Julie].

So before we get ahead of ourselves and prepare for the final assault on Paris, I think we should all take some time to relax and enjoy this week’s tour highlight ... ‘The French Alps’

--

--

--

LESSON 1: Learning to breath

Take a slow deep breath!

And inhale the .. crisp .. clean .. pollution free air!

Now if your week has had you feeling …

a little on edge

And you want to just take off ..

and fly away

Then take a little trip with me…

OVER the peaks

and glaciers of Mont Blanc

THROUGH

the weaving valleys of the Rhone Alps

until we reach

the

Alpine Lakes

and … the ‘Venice’ of the French Alps

Annecy

with tree lined canals

AND colourful boats

Are you starting to unwind?

Maybe we should find somewhere

to stay

and enjoy the scenery?

--

--

--

LESSON 2: Learning to relax

The Lake House

Somewhere to relax

forget the world

Sleep in Late!

Laze Around pondering..

well.. nothing

and DREAM

It’s all too relaxing!

I guess we should see how those

crazy boys and their spoked jalopies

are doing

Standings at Stage 18

So what do you think?

Looks like a win for Contador, yes?

No matter the outcome

I think Lance’s performance has been ‘not too shabby’

See you next time…

in … PARIS !

Previous ‘Le Tour’ posts can be found [here]

[archive image & standings]

ciao Julie

IMAGES

The Alps: #1 - exodus.co.uk, #2 - planetware.com, #3 - francetravelguide.com, #4,#5, #6 & #8 - wikipedia.com, #7 & #9 - google earth images
Annecy: #10 & #11 - google earth images,
Lake House: #12, #13, #15 - google earth images, #14, #17, #18 - Lexington, #16, #19, #20 - Wallacecotton.com, Banner - - google earth images