A hotel in Paris
A number of Rainy Day readers have written looking for a hotel tip in Paris. We are happy to oblige. The Residence Chalgrin is both central and affordable — "Cheap, nice, a bit mouldy," was how our friend Christian put it. Single rooms, with shower and TV, can be had for €55; doubles are available from €70. A modest continental breakfast is an added option at €6.50, but you might want to put the money towards something more substantial in the neighbourhood. And what a neighbourhood it is. One is just off the Champs Elys饳 and a short walk from both the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde. Perfect, in other words, for viewing the Tour de France. Seeing that Lance Armstrong will be back next year to win the race for a record seventh time, it might be a good idea to book in now.
Or maybe not. The reality is that watching Lance Armstrong win in Paris is a mixed pleasure. The good news is that he wins more impressively than any other athlete alive today. The bad news is that French antipathy towards him is so obvious that it sours the whole occasion. As Alastair Campbell pointed out in The Times (registration required) on Monday, "But Chirac's France wants French winners and, if it can't have them, other Europeans. But Americans? Non, merci." Anti-Armstrongism is a new variant on a theme Rainy Day readers will be familiar with. Come back later today for our take on what it means.
