Wednesday 13/07/2016 – Pompey ahoy

Combourg to Caen was a straightforward journey and we arrived in plenty of time for our return trip on Brittany Ferries, Mont St. Michel. 

There was time for a spot of sunbathing for Danny before we saw the two famous landmarks of Pompey that we had last seen on 8 June. 

What a journey, what an adventure for Danny and myself made so successful by all the tremendous friends who accompanied us and the many new friends we had made.  This is all history now but it has been such an enjoyable adventure that you can be sure Danny and I will continue writing about our future expeditions.

Unfortunately for us this as not the Victory that we wanted on our return but the team had giving everything  (and so had Danny).

Tuesday 12/07/2016 – Preparing for home

Danny and I spent the day around La Aurore, beginning with a relaxed breakfast and enjoying the beautiful surroundings. 

A peaceful day spent with Sue and Patrick who had been our hosts since the adventure began and going far beyond the call of friendship with their advice, help and on occasions patience. In the evening we all enjoyed a magnificent meal at a riverside restaurant in Dinan.



And so began our final night after five weeks away.

Monday 11/07/2016 – Au Revoir Paris

It was time to bid Paris a fond farewell, an old friend who we knew that we would be returning to see in the not too distant future.  What better way than to visit our favourite Montparnasse café for a Parisien dejeuner. 

Our usual seat on the pavement, a wine, le plat du jour finished off with a coffee.  A leisurely walk to Gare de Montparnasse and then into our reserved first class seats for the journey back to Rennes and onward to Combourg. 

There was a sad Danny looking out of the window as we pulled out of Montparnasse and sped through the French countryside with a final picture at Gare de Combourg.

Sunday 10/07/2016 – THE FINAL

To reach Saint-Denis was simplicity itself.  A direct Metro from Gaite to Saint-Denis.  The walk to the stadium was a pleasant 10 minute stroll. 

Through the first security check (remembering Danny) and up the steps towards the Stade, next the second security check and the Stade comes into view.

and straight to the ticket machine which turns GREEN!  We’re in.  The ticket was genuine and we’ve got our seat with the corporates. 

We were in the ground early and watched as it filled up.

The dj was working hard at his decks in front of us building the crowd up ready for the introduction of the teams, France and Portugal.  As this was going on I noticed that the seats around me were empty apart from two French men sat next to me who must have bought their tickets from a similar source.  Unnervingly two UEFA officials came and sat next to me, and then a third who told me that I was in her seat.  This wasn’t the time for Danny and I to argue the toss so we moved along the row. There was still time for a picture!

One of the French men decided to move forward but as soon as he settled down he was tapped on the shoulder by the UEFA official and told that those seats were reserved. 

A military band appeared, the flags were unfurled and the teams emerged with their child mascots (courtesy of MacDonalds) to a crescendo of noise. 

Still there were empty seats around us and about ten minutes into the game they were filled by the arrival of the child mascots and their parents.  Danny and I had managed to buy tickets in the MacDonalds corporate area.  The seats all filled and I was happy that I still had one for Danny and I. 

 

The game after 90 minutes was 0-0 and how Danny and I wished that Wales had been there, we would have been in with a real chance of lifting the trophy.  Portugal overcame the early loss of Ronaldo, who was carried off in tears to hold on although France nearly won it with the final kick when Gignac turned and hit the inside of the post.  Portugal were ahead however when Eder fired a low, 25 metre drive past keeper Hugo Lloris after 108 minutes.  Ronaldo collected the cup and this sparked wild celebrations in front of their fans in the Stade.

 

Danny and I stayed for the presentation but then it was a rush back to the Metro to begin our reverse journey. 

The game was an 8.45pm kick off so that by the end of the presentation the time was approaching midnight when the Metro was due to close, although it was advertised a running until 1.00am because of the final.  The abiding memory of the organisation of the final was how smoothly the transport was integrated.  One metro train later we were back in Gaite for 12.15am, about the time we would have just been reaching the back of the underground queue at Wembley!

 

Back at Clairefontaine I had a few trophies of my own to lift to celebrate the end of Euro 16 for UEFA and myself. 

Following our arrival in 8 June we had been here longer than any of the teams who did not make it to the final, and by the time we left French shores would have been here longer than any competing player.  After all that excitement it was time for Danny and I to have a good night’s sleep.

Sunday 10/07/2016 – Mingling with superstars

Euro 16 Final Day started with a breakfast at the local boulangerie for croissants and un café.  Danny decided it would be good for us to visit some of the famous landmarks, easily reached from Gaite metro station were the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. 

Yet again it was a beautiful sunny day and even though he’s a dragon I made Danny wear some sun tan lotion and carry a bottle of water.  After leaving the Metro we walked along the wide boulevard toward the Champs.  On reaching the shops Danny was pretty unexcited wanting to reach the Arc because he was looking forward to flying through it!  A short way up the wide Boulevard of designer shops we came to the Paris St. Germain shop where Danny was amazed to see his hero from Euro 16, Super Victor. 

Super Victor had a chat with Danny and then he posed for a picture with Danny sitting on his hand.  At the top of the Champs Elysees there was time for a couple of photographs.

If you look carefully you can see Danny looking at the Arc before flying through while no one was looking.  Back to Clairefontaine and a lunch and a rest before setting off to the final.

Saturday 09/07/2016 – An evening as part of Paris café society

Montparnasse comes to life at night, theatre goers mingling with those chattering the night away in the bars and cafés.  Our original intention was to return to Clairefontaine and then out for a meal but the best laid plans of mice and dragons……..  With all the excitement of the day Danny was feeling very thirsty so after he’d begged we went into a Montparnasse café.  This turned into a long visit as we found a table with two Parisiens, one of whose English was on a par with my par with my French and one who was a proficient English speaker.  He was able to act as a go between when there were any problems with translation.  Much time was spent putting the world to right, more particularly England after its decision for Brexit.  As sunset turned to dusk and then into night Danny and I wandered between the theatres of Montparnasse before selecting what turned out to be a remarkable Italian owned restaurant in the centre of Montparnesse close to the Gendarmerie for the 14^th arrondissement.  From there it was home to bed zzzzzzzzzz.

Saturday 09/07/2016 – The Belgian, the Eiffel Tower and THE ticket

For Danny to have a fly we took a detour under the Tower amongst all the purveyors of cheap trinkets and tat. 

Wait a minute did that guy have a cardboard sign round his neck say 2 (crossed out), 1 ticket for the final.  This needed a double take rushing up the other side of the wide boulevard and on the third passage speaking to the guy and his wife.  They were from Bruges and now had 1 corporate ticket for the final (hence the reason for no name on it).  Looking at the ticket and talking to the guy I began to get the feeling that I was as green as cabbage looking!  Our conversation revealed that he was a Bruges fan who had been watching Belgium and through corporate connections had tickets for the final.  At E350 it wasn’t cheap, although it was a E700, but Danny and I had a discussion.  After coming all this way, seeing Wales in every game to their semi-final defeat it made sense to get the ticket as even if it was a fake we’d rather have made the attempt than be sat tomorrow evening watching the final thinking “we could have been there”.  Final question, “Why don’t you sell it tomorrow for at least face value?”.  They had travelled from Bruges today and the journey with all the security had taken twice as long usual and didn’t want that hassle tomorrow, plus the price of an hotel room for the night and food would have wiped out any profit.  Maybe they are professional muggers I thought as they walked with me to the cash machine.  Deal done it really was time to head back.