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The [[Paris]] hitchhikers''Help writing gathering was a great success thanks to everyone who was there and the post 888 newsletter, click [http://wwwclear weather.hitchwikiIt was a very inspiring gathering for many of us as we shared so many stories and skills.org/en/index.php?title=Project_888/Newsletter&action=edit edit]!''

The Paris hitchhikers' gathering was a great success thanks to everyone who was there We stayed camping on the Champs de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower for all the three days, entailing some deep and meaningful conversation with the clear weatherlocal police force, though we were generally left alone by them. It was a In addition to the usual "get drunk/get laid" action that seems unavoidable in such occasions, we also had some very inspiring gathering for many of us practical workshops and talks such as we shared so many stories and skills. :

We stayed camping on the Champs de Mars in front of the Eiffel Tower for the whole three days, entailing some deep and meaningful conversation with the local police force, but we were generally left alone by them. In addition to the usual "get drunk/get laid" action that seems unavoidable in such occasions, we also had some very practical workshops and talks such as: * Nomadic philosophyand practical skill-sharing.

* Much , much sharing of hitch-hiking experience. Everyone We had one big session of several hours of hitchhiking stories where everyone seemed to have a cool be sharing their best story to tell. The Palme d'or goes to Fabrice and Pascal for the Stevie-Wonder-smile drug-lord.;)* Friendships were formed or developed. A very important thing for such a loose network.

It was very hard to leave that grass, a total of 150 people participated and some stayed until the very last end of it, as we were all thinking about the next event! A lot Many of people us are reactive very eager to find a way to meet again! We hope to the that our future event events will be have such nice days like those these ones !

===Press Coverage===One of the aims of the event was to promote hitchhiking, also by means of press-coverage. We also had some nice success here, as there was some coverage from the main French press agency AFP, another French website ([http://www.parismatch.com/dans-l-oeil-de-match/reportages/le-projet-opened a special 888-rassemble-les-autostoppeurs-europeens/(gid)/46523 see video]) and some local radio-stations. We also had press-coverage in Austria and the NetherlandsEvaluation page, where for which we got coverage on the main news (are also looking for your input. Go [http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/Video:Robino_Hitchhiking see video888/Evaluation there])and hit edit to share your thoughts.

===The Documentary ProjectPress Coverage === No less than 5 filmOne of the aims of the event was to promote hitchhiking, also by means of press-making teams were formed prior to coverage. We had some nice success here. There was some coverage from the main French press agency AFP and the most popular French weekly magazine (Paris gatheringMatch) did a video for its web edition ([http://www. All parismatch.com/dans-l-oeil-de-match/reportages/le-projet-888-rassemble-les-autostoppeurs-europeens/(gid)/46523 see video's are going to be merged ]), as well as some national radio-stations like France Info and France Inter. We also had press-coverage in one single documentary. The documentary project now got a ride for Austria and the editing step Netherlands, in Copenhagen with Martinthe latter we were aired on a main TV news channel ([http://www.hitchwiki. It will take some time of course to be finished, several months for sure, but we will keep you posted about thisorg/en/Video:Robino_Hitchhiking see video]).

Some === The Documentary Project ===No less than 4 film-making teams consisting in a hitchhiker and a cameraman hitchhiked to Paris. The four stories have been submittedincluding the events during the actual 888 weekend, see for example '[http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/888/Reports/Sitarane A Nomadic Date and interviews with Ludovic Hubler and Andre Brugiroux will be edited in Paris]' by JulienCopenhagen, Denmark, to make one single documentary. It would be great if you also want will take some time to post you story... There is also a flickr-group have this finished, several months for the photossure, check http://flickrbut we will keep you posted about it.com/groups/paris-888/pool/

===Next year: [[789]]Stories & Photos ===Next year will Some stories have been submitted, see for example '[http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/888/Reports/Sitarane A Nomadic Date in Paris]' by Julien and '2 weeks trip' on Hitchhiking is not a European Hitchhikers Gatheringcrime! [http://my.opera.com/patrishnik/blog/2-weeks-trip link] by Patryk, the youngest hitchhiker. We hope for It would be great if you that it will be a pleasure once again also want to share another experience togetheryour story. Of course, it will be very difficult to do better, but if all participate .. There is also a littleflickr-group for the photos, it will be our paradise check [http://flickr.com/groups/paris-888/pool/ http:) Check [[789]//flickr.com/groups/paris-888/pool/]and feel free to add yours.

=== Next year: [[789]] ===789? The second edition of the European Hitchhiking Week? We hope for you that it will be a pleasure once again to share another experience together. Of course, it will be very difficult to do better, but if all participate a little, it will be our paradise :) Check [http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/789 hitchwiki.org/en/789] for more information, and feel free to take part in the discussion. ===Some Hitchhiking Anecdotes===* There was a lot of space in the car, I asked him for take me to Orléans, he said: O.k. I will give you a ride! Oh no, I can't, my wheels will touch the car !!! [[User:Terrehappy|MiSha]]* One hitchhiker arrived from [[http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/Linz Linz]] after 21 hours of hitchhiking, he stayed . He then could only stay for 4 hours as he had to return home again to be back in time for his workjob.

* One hitchhiker had to go back 40 kilometers to pick up a phone he had left behind in a car. * Another hitchhiker almost lost all his luggage because he said good-bye before he picked his luggage from the trunk.* At least two attendees just took a plane from Berlin(!) to get to the meeting.

===(upcoming) events===* 23 August - 5 September 2008/open end - [http://vivaconagua.org/index.htm?post?388 Viva con Agua] hitchhiking race from [http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/Hamburg Hamburg]/St.Pauli to the EXPO 2008 in [[Zaragoza|Saragossa]] with the topic ''Water and Sustainable Development''.* 5-7 September - The Annual [[http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/abgefahren abgefahren e.V.]] club meeting will take place at [http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&hl=de&geocode=3590061396587339222,53.082350,8.792220%3B5107824826627978613,53.551460,8.569310&q=oberkeil&sll=53.209322,8.698425&sspn=1.135002,2.323608&ie=UTF8&ll=49.998471,11.515388&spn=0.152277,0.420914&z=12 Oberkeil] close to [[http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/Bayreuth Bayreuth]]. Open for everyone. Workshops, talks, etc. More info soon.* 16-24 August 2008 - [[Saint Petersburg Autostop League|PASL]] organizes an hitchhiking race through the West of [[Russia]].* 23 August - 5 September 2008/open end - [> http://vivaconaguameeting.org/indexabgefahren-ev.htm?post?388 Viva con Agua] hitchhiking race from [[Hamburg]]de/St.Pauli to the EXPO 2008 in [[Saragossa]] with the topic ''Water and Sustainable Development''.* 7-13 August 2009. 2nd European Hitchhiking Week, [[http://www.hitchwiki.org/en/789 hitchwiki.org/en/789]] location yet to be determined.

A third option would be if we can find a court-yard somewhere in Paris or another spot closer within the city for about 20 tents. This would be the perfect way by which we could actually combine groups of people that are hosted in the city and others staying in a tent but closer to the city. If you know anything, please share your thoughts in the 888-group.