I took the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse - High Speed Train) from Paris to Montpellier today. It was amazing that we crossed basically 75% of the country in just a little more than 3 hours. The ride was amazingly smooth and arrived just a couple of minutes behind schedule.
Montpellier is a great town, and I am staying a little ways from the city center, so my decision to rent a bike was warranted. I have a nice Scott bike, a little heavier than the Scott bike I have at home, but it is pretty good for cruising around the city. It was so nice to be able to cover a lot of ground today in a much shorter time than it would have taken me on foot. One disappointing thing did come up today, though: I found out that the race route tomorrow will be completely closed, even to bicycles, from early morning until after the race is over. Basically that nixes my plan to ride the whole 30-some mile route tomorrow morning. I will just spend the morning scouting out a good place to watch from, and then will camp out till the race comes through. I better remember to pick up some sunscreen!
The thought occurred to me this evening that since I arrived in Paris, I have not eaten a meal indoors. Every restaurant here, both in Paris and in Montpellier, has a tiny amount of indoor space, but makes up for it with expansive outdoor seating areas, that are covered with tents or large umbrellas. I would assume that these areas are enclosed in some way in the winter, or perhaps residents cook more in the winter.
The pictures I've posted with this entry are of the main town square of Montpellier.
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