Tour de France final day meetup!

Aussie expats, visiting Aussies and friends welcome...

We are pleased to annouce a very special meetup event for July: the Tour de France final day meetup!

The last time we did a Meetup event to mark the closing day of Le Tour back in 2006, we had an excellent Aussie turnout, lots of green and gold, superb weather and an amazing day out. What is particularly nice is that not only do you meet fellow expats but you also come across visitors of all nationalities dressed in their colours including many Aussies who have travelled to Paris from a far to see the last day of the Tour.

What also makes this year special is that our very own Cadel Evans is the race favourite to win the yellow jersey! No pressure son!

So we're doing it again but we've learned a valuable lesson from 2006. No 7am start this year - there was only me and the street cleaners last time. Hmmm. This time it's a 10am Meetup kick-off. But take our advice, do not arrive too late. 10am is perfect and the more who arrive on time the more chance we have to stake out an area. Earlier is better. 10.30am should be OK but if you think you can find us from 12h00 onwards, forget it. Too many people and we can't hold on to spaces on the fence. So get in there and get in early!

We will meet at Place de la Concorde, corner of rue de Rivoli and rue Saint Florentin. So it's essentially the spot where rue de Rivoli meets Place de la Concorde. If you're very early, you could get off at metro Concorde, but we recommend bringing a map and getting off at metro Madeleine. A 5 minute walk and less hassle.

Our advice:

• Arrive on time (around 10am if you want to get comfortable, and definitely before 12!)
  
• Dress in Aussie colours and bring anything Australian (flags, inflatable kangaroos, zinc cream...)
  
• Bring a small, folding chair (ie.the camping type, usually less than 10 euros at Decathlon)
  
• We kid you not. Although there will be some entertainment, the riders will not arrive before 4pm, so prepare for a long (possibly hot) day of conversation and conviviality. So bring water, food etc.
  
• Check the forecast the day before. If it's going to be hot (30° celcius +), it's going to be a long day in the sun. Wear shorts, bring a big hat, SUNSCREEN, maybe an umbrella for protection from the sun, lots of water, food.
  
• Or bring a book and MP3 player to kill some time, although we doubt you'll need a book. Too much happening.
  
• If anyone's got a portable radio with good speakers, you'll be much loved.
  
• All friends of the sunburnt country welcome!
  
• There'll be beers at a bar on rue Saint Florentin at the end of the afternoon.
  
• Any problems, call me on 06.26.85.00.05
  

So we'll see you at the corner of rue de Rivoli and rue Saint Florentin from 10am Sunday 27 July.

Come on Aussie come on!

Paul