Even though I'm still promoting Ask Me if I'm Happy, I thought I'd let my current WiP, 27 Stages, "inform" this week's Thursday Thirteen. For those of you unfamiliar with it, 27 Stages is a story set against the backdrop of a multi-stage road cycling race (think: Tour de France), which crosses the European continent over the course of one month.
So allow me to present:
So allow me to present:
13 Real Places in 27 Stages
1) Lisbon, Portugal.
The site of the first stage - a time trial - and the start of the second stage.
The site of the first stage - a time trial - and the start of the second stage.
2) Sintra, Portugal.
The Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais is where the time trial takes the riders before they return to Lisbon.
The Parque Natural de Sintra-Cascais is where the time trial takes the riders before they return to Lisbon.
3) Granada, Spain.
Stage Three ends here and Stage Four begins here.
Stage Three ends here and Stage Four begins here.
4) Lorca, Spain.
Where Stage Four ends, and where Abigail and Federico meet for the first time when he signs an autograph for her.
Where Stage Four ends, and where Abigail and Federico meet for the first time when he signs an autograph for her.
5) Barcelona, Spain.
Where Stage Five ends, and where we start to see the cracks deepening between Abigail and her husband, Charles.
Where Stage Five ends, and where we start to see the cracks deepening between Abigail and her husband, Charles.
6) Andorra.
Site of the end of Stage Six and the beginning of Stage Seven, and a pivotal rest day in between.
Site of the end of Stage Six and the beginning of Stage Seven, and a pivotal rest day in between.
7) Pau, France.
Stages Seven and Eight end and begin here, respectively. A nearby mountain, the Col du Tourmalet - which features prominently in the history of the Tour de France - has a role to play in Stage Seven.
Stages Seven and Eight end and begin here, respectively. A nearby mountain, the Col du Tourmalet - which features prominently in the history of the Tour de France - has a role to play in Stage Seven.
The Col du Tourmalet.
8) Torino, Italy.
Where Stage Twelve's team time trial kicks off, and where Abigail takes a stand.
Where Stage Twelve's team time trial kicks off, and where Abigail takes a stand.
9) Dongo, Italy.
Stage Thirteen ends here, with Adrie answering some of Federico's more, erm, delicate questions, and a team leader being (temporarily) sidelined.
Stage Thirteen ends here, with Adrie answering some of Federico's more, erm, delicate questions, and a team leader being (temporarily) sidelined.
10) Colmar, France.
Stage Sixteen begins here, with Federico paying a surprisingly small price for breaking a team rule, and Abigail dealing with the unwanted interest of an admirer.
Stage Sixteen begins here, with Federico paying a surprisingly small price for breaking a team rule, and Abigail dealing with the unwanted interest of an admirer.
11) Bonn, Germany.
Site of Stage Seventeen's end and Stage Eighteen's start. The rest day in-between proves...eventful, for Abigail and Federico.
Site of Stage Seventeen's end and Stage Eighteen's start. The rest day in-between proves...eventful, for Abigail and Federico.
12) Ettelbruck, Luxembourg.
Stage Twenty-One ends here, after a massive crash which alters the race standings - à la the "Stockeau Massacre" event in last year's Tour de France.
Stage Twenty-One ends here, after a massive crash which alters the race standings - à la the "Stockeau Massacre" event in last year's Tour de France.
13) Alpe d'Huez, France.
A pivotal event happens on the descent of this mountain - an iconic climb which has featured in many Tours de France - and has repercussions for the race as well as for Federico and Abigail.
A pivotal event happens on the descent of this mountain - an iconic climb which has featured in many Tours de France - and has repercussions for the race as well as for Federico and Abigail.
BONUS!
14) Paris, France.
Like the Tour de France, the fictional Tour d'Europa finishes here, with a series of laps around the Champs-Elysees.
14) Paris, France.
Like the Tour de France, the fictional Tour d'Europa finishes here, with a series of laps around the Champs-Elysees.
And there you are. Thirteen very real places where my fictional race takes place.
And yes, I'm having lots of fun researching this story.
And yes, sometimes it can be a bit problematic working out the logistics.
But you know...
I don't mind making the effort.
Ciao for now!
Ciao for now!
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