Classic Frenchman

A few nights ago after the Annecy stage, we stayed with a lovely French family. The Chambres d'Hotes was actually run by the parents, but the daughter and her kids were in "town" from Paris visiting.

They were all fascinating people, and once they learned we were from NYC and following the TdF, really excited to talk (the daughter spent a year at Purdue University in Indiana). The father, probably now in his 70s, was a classic Frenchman -- loved cycling (and cycled), drank pastis and drove like a bullet.

You know in movies where the old French guy goes blazing through the countryside in his car, well, we took part in one of those excusions. We needed to eat dinner so they offered to drive the route to a nearby Grill. As soon as we pulled out of the country driveway he flew up the road leaving Angel and I in the dust. I had to turn off the A/C in order catch up with him, and then the road started zigzaging. Wow, happy to report we made it there in one piece.

After learning that Angel was a teacher, they wanted her to have a photo with the grandkids to show her students next year -- real, live Frenchkids.