Paris, Days 13 and 14

Day 13, Paris, Thursday, Aug 8

The day in pictures, pretty much, and in summary: packing, a great lunch, and another (and last) day at the evening session of T&F

Before the session starts, one of THB's all-time athletes, Carl Lewis (the star of the 1984 LA O's), is being interviewed in English right in front of us. Looks great...he had the 2nd best long jump in history and got boo'd because it was his 2nd and last jump of the competition and he was saving himself for all the other races yet to come. 

walk to Brigat for breakfast and few extral for tomorrow's early start home $25

It took THB a while to  catch on: a pair of identical twins (you'd think THB would have picked up on this earlier) on the French table tennis team...and they are really good!

the other half of the Lebrun twins

THB and KM decide to go upscale and KM finds this nearby place on the Rue de full-of-dining-spots-of-all-types. They also have a great looking selection of fois gras, etc. to go

it is a short wait for an outside table in very nice weather, and in the shade

For many years THB and KM have been sharing meals, lunch is no different: cassoulet and a huge perfectly cooked duck breast and (our first in Paris) two glasses of red wine Le Comptoir recommends with our lunch choices 

All excellent (duck is not super tender), $85

the last night of T&F and the seats are through a tunnel

there is a guy sitting behind the camera, this shot is from our seats

Row 6, first two are saved for authorized photographers as long as they don't stand up to take pics. Of course 2 20-ish guys sit there until finally bumped by security and then the resettle a few rows behind us, we're in Row 6

one seat in from the aisle

the guy below us on the aisle is wearing a S. Korea flag autographed by ... NOAH LYLES?

okay as long as you SIT DOWN. Doesn't matter because when the action comes by on the track 4 Dutch in row 3 stand up and thus so does everyone in our section

there are many automated cameras spread along the track

we are right near the flag raising as a national anthem is played and the night starts with 4 medal ceremonies for winners from the previous night...official start time is 7pm, events start at 7:30

the night's historical figure wandering the event, you get a selfie and post it using a special QR code and your pic goes up to the O cloud

Another medal ceremony, Quincy Hall dominated his event last night

Turns out that in our favorite events, M&W VB and T&F, the USA does really well.

This an especially big evening for USA at T&F, in many events they win 2 medals, and in

VB the women play for  gold tomorrow (which THB and KM are shocked that they got this far), and the M won a bronze medal

there's one event dominated by countries that don't do well otherwise

Supposedly Snoop Dogg is getting $500K a day (for many days) to show up at different venues; Supposedly he is in this pic 

Carl Lewis does more than show up, he thumps the pole three times to start the competition

How close are we? If the runner veers off course on the turn they get a seat in front row! THB has no idea who the guy with the shaggy hair is...he ain't watching the race

The downside of our seats: after they go by THB and KM have to switch to watching the giant scoreboards, we're well placed to see either one

THB had to see the pic to realize that the guy behind the camera has stood up

THB and KM are just off screen to the left

They're on the turn of the 200, Lyle is the one with Covid and 102 temp

Noah finishes third, gold goes to Tebogo (in light blue) of Botswana and silver to Ken Bednarek (just below us)

Note the countries vying for M Javelin...winner from Pakistan sets WR 

here is on the big board

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone broke her own world record in the 400M hurdles, winning by a huge margin, USA goes 1-2 and Bol from Netherlands finish way back in 3rd

Grant Holloway eases to victory, another 1-2 for USA

                        Day 14, Paris to E-ville, Friday, Aug 9

Nothing to Report: Early to airport, cab ride is $75 (different flat rate going than coming), flights are all on time, THB and KM ride BART together to MacArthur station, DB and Sandy are waiting to meet him, KM off to Lafayette station where EM, J & C are awaiting her arrival