The tour de France came through Montpellier this week. We watched it the first day in Lansargues which is a small village near us. The next day it began in the center of Montpellier. We watched the publicity caravan from the street and the actual race from my office which is on the third floor of a building near the archway that looks like the Arc de Triumphe.

The publicity caravan is actually the most entertaining part of the experience for us. The sponsors each have a vehicle decorated from which they throw things at you...key rings, bags, hats, coupons, water bottles, etc. The people in the village were waging a glorious battle for the possession of these trinkets...while the citizens of Montpellier stood dignified as the loot rained down on them. Needless to say, we dove for it both times and came away victorious with a bag full of stuff we will now pitch.