The Olympic flame is in the Tuileries Garden by the Louvre in Paris. This evening, I walked to the other side of the river to witness the flame light up the evening sky. It was said to be around 9:30, after sunset. I went an hour early to secure the best spot. Several came to mind, and I wanted a photo with the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower in it simultaneously. The crowd was building. Usually, I avoid crowds and or have an exit plan. I am cautious like that.
Around 10:30, the police said it would not go up for another hour or not at all. That is when the bubble I was in popped, and I noticed the lighting. I decided to go home and come back in a few days. The crowd was dense, and I had to say excuse me in ten different languages to get through. Please know I only speak two. The Eiffel Tower was glowing at the bridge, and I thought to take a photo, but spinkles warned me to move on.
Within minutes, those sweet little sprinkles, after a blistering day, turned into an utter downpour.
Some of you might have dove into a cafe or bar; I hopped into a laundromat.
In Paris, it downpours for fifteen or twenty minutes, stops, takes a smoke, has a shot of coffee, and goes at it again. I know its trick, so the minute it stopped, I bee-lined home, caught a bus, and made it in time before the next downpour.
Flame arrives in Marseille photo via Reuters
Side Note: “Olympic flame begins long journey from Greek birthplace to Paris
“The flame for this summer’s Paris Olympics was lit at a ceremony at the ancient site of Olympia in Greece on Tuesday, ahead of a torch relay that will start in Athens. After a 12,000-kilometre journey through mainland France and the overseas French territories, it will arrive in Paris for the Games’ opening on 26 July.” via RFI
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