Commitaphobics Journal
The French Connection
The managing editor told me to write a story on the nightlife in France based on my recent trip over there to watch the Tour de France and Lance Armstrong's unprecedented sixth win. The truth of the matter is that I spent most of the time being a wannabe tour rider and not paying attention to the culture, instead opting to ride up every mountain with an unpronounceable name that we could find (Col Du Croix du Bluffy, Mont St. Whatever, etc.) It was on one of those brutal climbs that it dawned on me that there is a whole other side to the French that is quite opposite to the stuffy Parisian stereotype that despises all things American and, well, all things not French.
While Climbing up the 21 switchbacks of the L'Alpe d'Huez time trial course, our entourage was surrounded by roadside partiers in mini-motorhomes who had staked out prime viewing spots days in advance to watch this decisive stage, and they'd been drinking and grilling and yellin' and hollerin' since. That's when I had my turn 3 epiphany - this was European NASCAR, even down to the confederate stars-n-bars flying over one spectator's camp (the surrogate rednecks turned out to be dutch and had no idea what it was all about)! Fans flew huge homemade banners supporting their favorite racers, and except for the fact that the banners said "Telekom" and "US Postal" instead of "# 8" and "Home Depot", it could have been the infield at Talladega.
And it was like that for most of the trip - a three week long Super Bowl complete with sports drama, bad commercials and over-the-top glitz. Even with L.A. winning the impossible sixth race (a feat taht was supposed to have been reserved for a Frenchman) the French were actually, well, cool. Who would have known?
One last thing. There are two French Stereotypes that ARE true:
- 1. Great wine and food.
- 2. Never joke about 'surrendering' unless you want to REALLY rile someone up - that old battleaxe "throw momma from the train" look-a-like went after me like I said "General Sherman" or something.