We knew we had no interest in going to the Olympics in Paris. The police state created by the high level of security, large crowds, and price gouging for lodging, tickets, and everything else was unappealing on all levels. But, once I learned that certain events were being held outside of Paris, I was keen on seeing if anything might be enticing enough to cross into France. It turned out that Bordeaux, only 2.5 hours by train from the border, was hosting soccer games and tickets would not be cost prohibitive.
I looked for a fellow soccer or Olympic enthusiast, as Jeff was not game to join me, and came up empty. I thought about going alone but was hesitant, especially when the selected game – Spain vs. Brazil (women, July 31) – would be meaningless for the Spanish team who won their first two games and would go on to the knock-out round regardless of the result. And then we heard from an unexpected visitor.
My dear friend Lauren’s son Jacob decided to pass through San Sebastian at just the right time, with Paris as his next destination. He arrived from Madrid by train on the 30th to spend the night, and I took him on a whirlwind city tour. We then booked game and train tickets, plus lodging in Bordeaux for the night. And the next morning, we were on our way!
Bordeaux was a tranquil Olympic host -- perfect for us last-minute fans. The city was dressed for the occasion and had plenty of friendly volunteers but wasn’t overcrowded. We took the city tram from the train station to drop our stuff, had enough time to stop in the city center at the Olympic Welcome Center and pick up a pin and a pen, grabbed a bite, and then took a bus to the stadium. It was hot in Bordeaux, but thankfully inside the stadium there was a nice breeze, and our seats were in the shade. The stadium was not even half full. There were plenty of fans for both teams decked out in flags, jerseys, etc.
The game was an odd one with lots of injury time. The Brazilian goalie was treated multiple times, and the team must not have much confidence in the substitute because the starter stayed in. A Brazilian player got a red card, allowing Spain to play with an extra player for the entire second half, but Brazil hung in despite the disadvantage. Ultimately Spain won 2-0. Due to the limited size of the Olympic tournament, Brazil went on to the next round, beat France in the quarterfinals and played Spain again in the semi-final, where it got its revenge with a 4-2 victory. Today Brazil will play the US for the gold medal. Spain lost in the bronze medal match to Germany, which made for a disappointing tournament for the reigning Women’s World Cup champions.
Jacob and I had a good time getting to know each other better and taking it all in. And now I can say I’ve been to the Olympics!
Here’s a few photo highlights from Jacob’s visit:
Au revoir,
Shana
No comments:
Post a Comment