part three - (post)marathon

the last leg of the trip all started with BEER!! after the guys got cleaned up, they were craving beer!!! we headed to a cafe just around the corner from our hotel... we were told the less walking (or limping) the better!! nicole and i didn't argue with that as i think we were experiencing some sympathy exhaustion as well!! after the runners dined on frites, bunless french style hamburgers and of course french onion soup, it was time for another siesta...post run this time!!!

we met up again later that night for the 'last supper' as marlon and nicole were due to leave the following morning and us the following night. by process of elimination, we decided to dine at our favourite italian restaurant as we knew that we wouldn't be disappointed. it was a different dining experience this time as the guys were able to enjoy some 'vin' with dinner... :) it was early to bed though...no late partying in paris this time!

after a somber goodbye to our dear friends, mike and i boarded the big red bus for a scenic (non walking) tour of the city...just what the doctor ordered mike's stiff, sore legs. we started out sitting up top, outside, - the best seats on the bus BUT quickly headed inside when the cold rain and hail (!!) arrived!! we took in all the familiar sites - eiffel tower, the louvre, notre dame etc. but weren't expecting to see the 'site' of the olympic torch!!! we saw on the news that morning that the torch relay would be in paris for just that day but never thought that we would be lucky enough to cross its path especially in such a big, busy city like paris. the bus was in the right place at the right time!!! within the shadows of the torch we saw an exuberant amount of protesters calling for democratic freedoms and self rule in tibet... unfortunately, once known as a relay of celebration and world peace has now turned into a parade of protest.it was finally time for us to abandon the 'city of light' and leave for charles de galle airport - we were taking the red eye back to doha.

thankfully, we allowed ourselves enough time to check in as we encountered a slight problem with my visa...or lack there of. this was the first time, qatar airways asked me to present a work visa for doha or an ongoing air ticket out of doha. we all know that i don't have a working visa yet - i have been leaving and re-entering the country every 30 days on a visitor's visa. so far we have never had a problem with this process and this was the first time they have asked for proof of a ticket out of doha. without a ticket, they were not going to allow me to board. so...off we went to the ticket booth and purchased a one way ticket to dubai in one month's time. the ticket can later be refunded but they were not going to allow me board the plane without one. crazy...

once we passed through security, there was one more problem we faced...the steep flight of stairs mike had to drag himself up...the escalator was out of service...