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Tandem di Pace on Sunday 11th June 2006

Second day

ORLY - Greasy for chains, padded shorts too tight and sultry hot: today we have taken the bicycles for the first time since our arrival. The night, that in Paris comes later than in Campi, has brought some refreshment, also if most of us have been forced to sleep with open windows. We haven't noticed the beds, because we were so tired that we fell asleep very soon. However, in the morning, we were rested and active, thanks to the rich supply of jam made for breakfast. At 09.30 a.m, while we were preparing the bicycles for the first trudge, the deputy mayor of Orly, Philippe Ménager has caught up with us. Like last year, he has come with us in our cycle lap of Paris. The evening before he  confided that he hasn't pedaled any more since the last "Tandem", so he feared that his muscles were less "tonic". But arrived at his home to take two bicycles for people who haven't them in the group, a worrying tale on Ménager sprang out: despite of the year of idleness, the deputy mayor had pedaled for many times in his life, having made the tour round Europe by bicycle. His style has been noticed soon: he slipped in the traffic among the tracks along the Seine river as if he had ridden his bike until the day before. The politeness of our guests showed itself also in this occasion: Ménager has come with us and he has followed the itineraries that we had required. We have gone along some cycle lanes on the left bank of the Seine river, admiring the metropolis that overlooks the waves. After a small stop in front of the huge complex of the National Library "François Mitterand", with four buildings an open book-shaped, as many in the group have repeated ad nauseam, we have left again. After few time we were in the middle of a Sunday local street market with stalls with fruits and street artists. We have stopped again in a very picturesque place with a "café" where Ménager has offered us some drinks. Then again on the bicycles towards Notre Dame, passing past the Pantheon. The cathedral has charmed Niccolò, who has never seen it. We have stopped to take some photos and especially to wait for one of the gruop, who has got lost. After we have gone again in hurry to come back to Orly, where the Associations feast was waiting for us. Sometimes when you are in a hurry, the bad luck falls implacable to delay: we have had infact some problems with the chains of the bicycles and Niccolò has "dirtied" his hands. Half an hour later (we know that the guests must be waited for) we have arrived eventually at the feast of the associations in Orly. Other photos with the mayor and then a Caribbean lunch (there we have regretted the dinner of yesterday...). After lunch we have had the last information for the leaving of tomorrow and we have greeted our guests. Now we are free to visit Paris.

 

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