To: Thomas Winklhofer who wrote (18903 ) 7/13/1998 8:51:00 PM From: IQBAL LATIF Read Replies (3) | Respond to of 50167
Thomas-- 'Allez les bleu'-off topic Champs-Elysees was since last night the party point-- we had nearly 600,000 people last night on the streets, I saw the match at Hippodrome de Paris at- Vincennes. Great scenes we had a hell of good time- coming back was real problem all the routes leading to Paris were blocked. I reached home 2.00 in the morning and joined my friends downstairs on the Champs. I saw 'bleus' today twice once as they paraded down the street in an open bus and later in the night they attended a great gala party in the Lido, nearly every one of them was there, we got the tickets and saw the heros from closest of distance.They all entered from the rear door the artists entranceon 1 Rue Lord Byron as hundereds of thousands of fans kept the long vigil outside on the Champs. This was 'idol making' at the best.I feel sorry for brazil but anyway they have this pleasure many a times before for France today was to celeberate its finest hour. This is as someone very rightly pointed out 'city of triumph' the architect is such, as you march down the Champs the view from 'Palace Louvre' which was once Napoleans residence. The view from his bed room was suppose to be uninterupted, it is said that the axis on which Arch and Champs sits is the axis on which conquering armies after great victories use to return. It was nice to see the new champs of the world returning and celeberating this triumph in a befitting manner. In this city of triumph one could not ask for more. The kids and Nasrin were over the moon to see Zidan, Karimbeu and Laurent Blanc all just few yards away. I was making the movie but little did I realize that pause was on, anyway we have some few minutes of close up, my son tells me this is going to be a great private movie, I wish I would know how to tackle this electronics things a little better. What a week here in paris, it is now going to be all anti-climax. As we enjoy benefits of living on the Champs we have this cyclicals periods of ups and downs, right now as I right the fire crackers and loud honks still remind me of a pending celeberation tomorrow the 'Bastille' day march past. We will see the march down the Champ hopefully from our gallery. As this hectic week comes to an end I am looking forward to final phase of "Tour de France' it ends right here, every road in France leads to Paris and in Paris all roads meet on top of Champs.