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]














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This Is














‘Le Tour de France’














and the winner for 2009















is














PARIS








































and YOU














1900 -  5-2 - parisenimages-fr














and ME














wiki396pxMona_Lisa_thumb8







































and the ordinary folk














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who took to the streets














1900 -  2 - parisenimages-fr














to watch this amazing spectacle














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OK maybe














ALBERTO CONTADOR too














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














in the City of Light ..














Paris



























Home to ‘La Tour Eiffel’














wiki - 1902 - 396px-Lightning_striking_the_Eiffel_Tower














Coco Chanel














Coco - 2














Montmartre














montmarte7














& 'La Moulin Rouge'





















































People came out in force














wiki - 755px-American_troops_march_down_the_Champs_Elysees














by any means available














vintage mini














to greet the riders














take refreshment














La Coupole














And line the Champs Elysees














France-Paris-ChampsElysees photbucket














To see the riders make their entrance














historique_1975 - first finish on champs elysees














And the winner cross the line to victory














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[Jacques Anquetil – 1964]



























So here’s to














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The winners of past














Henri pelissier - won 1923[Henry Pelissier – 1923]














Maurice-Francois Garin - won 1903 - le petit ramoneur[Maurice Francois Garin – 1903]














Firmin Lambot - won 1911 and 1913[Firmin Lambot – 1911 & 1913]

































historique_1919 - Eugene Christophe [Eugene Christophe – 1919]














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And














the new friendships














made along the way














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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














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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.














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So for one last time, BACK TO THE BOYS














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Congratulations – Alberto Contador 1st ESP














Sorry Cadel Evans AUS It was not your year!














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














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














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FULL Standings and race details can be found [here]














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














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‘Le Tour’ Post Archives:














ASO_025 04-07-2009: [L'Histoire] And So It Begins














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














LIFE - paparazi 06-07-2009: [Stage 2] Cote D’Azur














1 lavendar 3 09-07-2009: [Stage 4] Provence [& Vincent]














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














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














chateau 1 20-07-2009: [Stage 15] OH Chateaux














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














2 Eiffle stroll 3 26-07-2009: [Stage 21] Paris – Fin














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Ciao JULIE














wiki - 396px-Mona_Lisa

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





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It’s time!




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Destination – Paris








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Le Tour de France – Stage 21








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Thank you for joining me on this Black & White Sunday








Hosted by Anne Marie of Na-Da Farm Life








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and Thank You for all your lovely comments this week.








They are always appreciated








ciao JULIE





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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’




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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



planetware-dom-an-aerial-tramway-to-the-aguille-du-midi-station-in-the-french-alps-f1653-



And you want to just take off ..



and fly away



paragliding - annecy - francetrabelguide-com







Then take a little trip with me…



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OVER the peaks



wiki - Mont_Blanc_003 - mer de glace





and glaciers of Mont Blanc



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THROUGH

the weaving valleys of the Rhone Alps



google earth - rhone alps



until we reach



FrenchAlps





the



Alpine Lakes



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and … the ‘Venice’ of the French Alps







Annecy



with tree lined canals



annecy1





AND colourful boats



annecy2





Are you starting to unwind?



Maybe we should find somewhere

to stay

and enjoy the scenery?








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LESSON 2: Learning to relax















The Lake House



via google earth - panoramia 6



Somewhere to relax



via google earth - panoramia



lexington korg via google earth - panoramia 5 Box_Cushions_Mood_web





forget the world



Lexington

Sleep in Late!

lexington2

Laze Around pondering..

well.. nothing

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and DREAM





boat b&2










It’s all too relaxing!



I guess we should see how those



crazy boys and their spoked jalopies



are doing







Standings at Stage 18



Standings 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]



Postcards From \



[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