Last Shift in the Village and Athletics

The morning was cool and cloudy followed by a sunny afternoon, and a thunderstorm in the evening as spectators left the Stade de France.
A taxi collected me at 05.00 for my last shift in the Village. I found a couple of athletes but the chaperones were released at 10.00 due to the lack of athletes to test out of competition now that the competitions had begun.
I stayed for the final farewell to the staff and other volunteers, had lunch, took some photos, and then took the Metro to the Place de la Nation which had a bronze monument depicting the triumph of the Republic with a female figure personifying the Republc.
After a cafe chaud at a bar, I walked along Rue Fauborg-Antoine past many ethnic cafes and businesses. I took photos and had another coffee at the Gare de Lyon, walked on to the Pont Charles de Gaulle, before going to the Eglise St Antoine des Quinze Vingts for a recital by the Japanese organist, Mayu Harada, on the relocated Cavaille-Coll organ. Guilmant's First Sonata Opus 42 was especially memorable.
After returning to the hotel to change out of my uniform, I took a bus to the Stade de France for the evening session of athletics. The Stade was almost full with an enthusiastic crowd.Read more