Paris O's Days 11-12

 KM and THB take a selfie at their last VB match of Paris O's (THB is the one without the glasses on)

 Day 11, Paris, Tuesday, Aug 6

Annals 0f Remembrance: THB has been holding out on the followers, so many stories left unblogged, so many memories collected and not shared. Emphasis lost through posting of pics and words don't express the emotions completely. Maybe the pics and words are the best we can do. Oh, and along with being there in person.

{ed. note: you mean to start another post about what a crappy blogger you've been, with all these extra hours you've had during this O's compared to others? Really???}

Nostalgia is already setting in, only one more VB session and three more T&F. Flying home Friday morning. Thoroughly enjoyable, a great travel partner, can 2028 happen? At least THB made 2024, ever grateful.

Quote from 1984 (THB overhearing his parents in the LA Coliseum)

- JOB to BNB: this has been great tonight, what are we seeing tomorrow, BNB

- BNB to JOB: JOB, it's over, you'll have to wait until 1988 if want to see more summer O's

{ed. note: J&B subsequently went to Seoul, Barcelona, Atlanta and Sydney, and THB went to the last 3 with them)

Back to real life: More pastry from the awesome Terroirs. Overbuying as usual. A cafe au lait at a specialty store (mit chien), then THB and KM rest up and head to the VB venue for the last time.

THB tries a special cafe au lait. Not worth the wait, and a great view of a massive dog that took up 50% of the small shop's floor space

Brazil dominates Dominican Republic in quarterfinal match

Avid seatmate next to THB: she was a former setter who constantly annotate woman on her left. They had obstructed views, bending over or sitting way up tall to avoid the guard rails (see lower right)

The Boss is alive and well in Wales

Why did THB take and post this pic? Because it is the only shot of 2 of the 3 DomRep flags in the arena in the same pic

98% of sold-out arena are rooting for Brazilians

THB and KM take their last train ride to VB, an easy 30 minutes from the hotel to the seats

The multi-talented KM finds this patisserie for a great raspberry tart 

                           

Now on to the night session of T&F: another terrific night and the big upset of a loaded the Men's 1500M 

Department of Oddities: THB and KM have great seats, medium high up and looking down the backstretch. Only the seats are dead center of a hugely wide section. OOPS! The architects forgot to put an aisle between two sections so midway along the section it changes numbers...bizarre, and leads to much confusion among the volunteer ushers and mostly foreigners who have never seen one section with two different numbers (and they don't realize it until someone comes along and sez "you're in our seats"). 

And, our seats are below one of the two giant scoreboards. And for repeats of events or list of standings, they are not shown on both scoreboards. THB and KM see a lot of the Hammer Throw standings and miss the reruns of the finals in the Men's 1500M, Women's Steeplechase, Women's 200M, and the Women's 400M Hurdles heats. 

THB has on his neck fan, a cooling towel wrapped around his neck, another ice coffee (in his recycled cup, saving the environment $2.20 at a time) and a wrist band that lights up by remote control

Another special pic: Mondo getting his Gold Medal for a (still living) legend, Sergei Bubka. It's a long story, shortened here: JOB and BNB saw Bubka twice stand at the end of the runway, unable to will himself to vault (in Seoul and Barcelona) as his 2 minutes went poof. They never did see him vault! Now KM (who has heard all of THB's stories many times) has to point out Bubka because THB neither heard him announced nor could read his name on the scoeboard

A great 1500M field and finish, right below THB and KM's seats. USA goes 1st (new O record), 3rd, and 5th...unheard of for over a 100 years. THB will be watching this one over and over when he gets back

Day 12, Paris, Wed, Aug 8

Pics from the day: The Cauldron and T&F

A unique torch

It floats up at night, too late for THB and KM needing a shot at decent night's sleep

Need a selfie, KM is here for you

Pick a restaurant at random, turns out plain rice attracts Asian crowd

THB and KM pick a hybrid table: just inside with windows wide open. THB has a strong Aperol Spritz

KM has poulet grilled, very good

THB has veal stew with (very spicy) peanut sauce and a whole head of garlic, sweet potatoes and maybe a few other things hiding

Along with Coke Zero, $65

Another great night at T&F

Tonight our seats are just above the section reserved for athletes and special guests. THB and KM can see both scoreboards and on top of the Women's Pole Vault.

Quincy Hall wins his race in OR time, 6th fastest time ever in 400M (per the PA announcer). THB also saw Michael Johnson set WR and OR in Atlanta 1996

Katie Moon gets silver in PV; 19 women qualified for finals (normal is 12) and the event was moved up to start at 6:15 instead of 7. Most of crowd got the message . ...and finished 4+ hours later.

Last event of the evening: Men's 3000M Steeplechase, splash pad hurdle was also right below us

USA Kenneth Rooks was in last for most of race, not that far from the leaders. That meant he had plenty of room going over the 28 hurdles for a number of laps; he is starting his surge in the pic below

At the beginning of the last lap he spurted to the front (again going over the hurdles without any impediments). Finishing second a major accomplishment given the competition