5371 Miles Away: You can also watch it on the Ocho

Sunday, August 1, 2010

You can also watch it on the Ocho

It’s time for another entry on the Cox Sisters’ adventures in Bulb Land. And this time we’re going far away from the clogs and windmills…we’re heading to…Rotterdam. You might remember Rotterdam as the setting for the infamous Sinterklaas party last year. It's a very modern city compared to the rest of Holland because it was destroyed in bombings from the Wars and was completely rebuilt. But freezing my butt off while being shown the sights last December was all worth it because it meant I got to sit around on my butt (not freezing this time) all day and not feel guilty about seeing the city. Also the times I wasn’t sitting on my butt meant I remembered where the shopping center was along with the four story H&M with killer sales going on. Oh it was glorious.

Anyway…the reson for us sitting on our butts? Was because in all actuality, we couldn’t get away from the traditional Dutch and had traveled an hour and sat on concrete in order to watch…bikes. Alright but these were no ordinary bikes with scary bells and baskets of flowers/dogs on them. These were…racing bikes. And not just any racing bikes…these were the bikes of the Tour de France!

We got up on Saturday with a plan to go somewhere (although at the time not Amsterdam because it was rumored to rain and we didn’t want to do a tour in the rain.) Then we got a perfectly timed email from my father informing us that the Tour de France actually started in Holland, and went down through Belgium before heading off into it’s name sake. So they should really call it tour de Benerance. Anyway, that day was the start of the tour…well the time trials, but who cares? Still awesome right? So we headed out there. When we got there, it was still pretty empty. Knowing that it would fill up soon we decided to grab a seat. But not before walking the majority of the track and enjoying all the sights…

Of course after we sat down and waited…

And waited…

And tested ut the camera’s multi-shot setting much to the unhappiness of the man sitting behind Nina…

And receiving a free hat…

The parade of sponsors began! Which was just an excuse to want cheap useless free crap from trucks decorated like anything but trucks…

Well after that parade, we met a lovely woman who had a schedule…and it turned out that although the trials would be starting soon, all the good racers (read the ones thought to possibly win, read: Lance Armstrong which was the only person we knew of) were not going to be for another FIVE hours!!! Hence the necessary trip to the four story H&M.

So after a successful spree including the introduction of the Dutch equivalent of the Costco hotdog/soda combo (although twice as expensive), we headed back to the track. There we were graciously allowed into the front being short and pretty, and with an hour left, began snapping shots…and shot after shot…we were practicing for Lance…because we were not going to miss him. Here’s some of the better ones…but don’t ask me who they are…

And then we saw Lance! For about two seconds…

Doesn’t he look fast?

And yes I know he has since lost…man those Spanish just take away EVERYTHING (oh don’t worry there’s a World Cup entry coming up soon). But team Radioshack came in first…so GO USA!

Afterward, when everyone was done, I couldn't resist. Here's me...on the track...no bike necessary...