Paris Explodes Over World Cup Victory
Bonjour,
My blogs may be a little shorter as July company has begun. What fun! We welcomed Jodie and Dennis Clements to Paris yesterday morning after a scary misunderstanding.
The hotel where they are staying told us they had no record of their reservation! We were scrambling trying to think of another hotel for them, only to find that everything was booked. It was tough having to say “Bienvenue à Paris” in one breath and in another tell them the bad news. They started to laugh and told us that Expedia had put the wrong name on their paperwork! Amazingly, the hotel was okay with that and they were indeed registered, got checked in, and all was well. Of course, they could have stayed in our apartment if all else had failed. Their hotel room is quite nice and they love it. I warned them that it would be LOUD in the evening and to put in their ear plugs.
We strolled around quite a bit, got their subway pass, went to the ATM, took them to the Monoprix for breakfast choices, ate a nice lunch on the island, and after a brief rest and refreshing shower for them, they took us out to dinner at Le Carette in La Place des Vosges. Le Paris Plages or Paris beach is in full swing which they loved.
And then there was the World Cup semi-final game between France and Belgium. Oh-là-là! Our plan had been to go to L’Hotel de Ville to watch the game on a giant mega-screen. Au contraire. All the roads were blocked off, the subway station there was closed, and we were pretty much stranded. It was a LONG walk home but we did it circumventing all the barricades. The city absolutely went nutso after the victory. We’ve seen a lot of crazy situations in Paris through the years but never anything to match this! 
The Street Scene of the day is a lazy cat lounging on a window sill oblivious to all the hoopla and celebration.
Stay tuned for more adventures with Jodie and Dennis and then the Tysons arrive tomorrow.
À bientôt
L & B
July 11, 2018 @ 5:43 am
You had a very busy and active day today. Great pictures to give us a feel for the day.
July 11, 2018 @ 6:40 am
Wonderful! What a day and night to arrive in Paris!
We were there in 1998 when France went all the way. I’ll never forget the excitement.
Enjoy this week as I know you will. Allez les Bleus!!
July 11, 2018 @ 7:52 am
We are staying in Le Haut Marais and it was pandemonium here as well! I can only imagine what it will be like on Sunday if France wins! We will probably stay close to our apartment, perhaps join the festivities at the cafe on the corner. Fingers crossed for France!
July 11, 2018 @ 7:57 am
Yes, indeed! Allez les Bleus! Or something like that!
July 11, 2018 @ 12:59 pm
We’ve become fans of the Tour de France since you introduced us to it a couple years back. The TV aerial photography of the race gives a great view of other parts of France and provides a nice supplement to your blog. Coupled with the World Cup, the folks in France must be having a wild sports summer. Does the World Cup overshadow the Tour de France? I’d thought of your apartment being in neighborhood of residential, small shops and businesses. The photo from your window seems to show that.
July 11, 2018 @ 7:04 pm
I’d say the World Cup tops Le Tour de France. Football is king here as in the US. Le Tour hasn’t been the same since the Lance Armstrong debacle. If France wins Sunday night, I think the whole place will be celebrating all night.
July 11, 2018 @ 4:33 pm
Thanks to the French goalkeeper for that amazing save.