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I live in Paris. When I heard the Olympics were coming, I was horrified. The commercialism. The congestion. The crowds.
I meant to leave for the month, but I was not the only rat fleeing the ship. The normal August vacation spots where booked years in advance.
So I stayed.
Leased my centrally located apartment and am house sitting for a friend whose vacation planning was more successful.
It hasn’t been too bad. Most of the time, it’s them there, me here.
The Louvre is open and empty. I can go to restaurants that are usually shut for the month of August. Although, I have a feeling we will pay for that in September.
If I have a desire to see Les Olympiques, I can hang out by the side of a road course, or find a lesser known sport that still has tickets for sale. Gymnastic finals? I couldn’t get near them if I wanted to. Besides, you get a better view of the action on TV.
One thing I like to do if I feel the need to spectate is to pick a sporting venue and go hang out in the warm-up area, or as close as security will permit. Then I find someone who doesn’t look terribly busy and ask them what I’m looking at. Occasionally, I will get a sneer, but most fans like to talk about their sport. I’ve been out to Versailles once or twice to watch the equestrian competitions. I never have trouble finding a Virgil to my Dante. I tell you, those horse folks do love to talk.
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We are the Olympic night shift.
We put up and take down the barriers for road courses.
We clean up the arenas once the crowds have gone home.
The Paris Organizing committee can blithely announce, “The restaurant will be open 24 hours a day so that athletes can eat at any time.” Olympics.com: Global delights, veggie cuisine and local flavours: Inside the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Village restaurant, Penicaud, 26 June 2024.
We are the ones who make that happen.
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Alien Commander: Where are you off to now?
Alien Scout: Paris. The Olympics.
Alien Commander: What are your mission perimeters?
Alien Scout: I have the opportunity to interact with people from various sectors of the planet. Everyone will be in a celebratory mood and therefore less likely to be suspicious of any mistakes. It’s a big party of strangers.
Alien Commander: This sounds reasonable.
Alien Scout: I will the opportunity to observe physical specimens in optimal configurations. The tall, lean high jumpers, The heavy, stout weightlifters. The rowers …
Alien Commander: You’re not going native are you? You have been in humanoid form for a while. It would only be reasonable to acquire humans desires as well.
Alien Scout: Oh no! Ick! No! Humans! Bleh!
Alien Commander: (raises medial eyebrows)
Alien Scout: (clears throat) I mean, it is an suitable environment to study the range of human phenotypes. Statistically speaking.
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Afterword
Faces in the crowd on TV. I was not in Paris. I probably would have been distracted if I were. [When Fact Is More Interesting Than Fiction]
I was guessing. Turns out I was correct, “Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece in the Louvre Museum has rarely attracted such a small gaggle of cellphone-waving art lovers.” NBC News: The crowds are full and raucous at the Paris Olympics. Outside the events? Not so much. Smith, Aug. 4, 2024.
Archives [Faces In The Crowd]
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Onwards!
Katherine
Virtual Brush Box 