Monday 20 June 2016 – Are you Santa?

Last night we had been in conversation with Bob (from Madrid) arranging to meet him when his flight arrived.  Once that was sorted and after another fine European style breakfast I again left Clive sleeping for Cymru and went for a walk around the area.  When I returned Clive returned the compliment whilst I slept. 

By 5.00pm Bob’s flight had arrived and we could prepare for the journey to the stade.  All ran smoothly and no problems with the Russians at all although security was noticeably more visible and strict than at any of the other games.  Inside the ground Danny and I came across the fan of the game who may well have been Santa with his helper.

Once again there was a sea of red to greet the players and Danny was there wearing his red for Cymru, the 3-0 victory made sure that there was singing to the very end and a happy Neil Taylor whose last goal before tonight's was in front of 285 spectators for Wrexham at Grays Athletic.  The three minutes from the end of the Cymru game until England completed their game were as long as any, but worth the wait which confirmed Cymru as champions of the group.

If everything had been smooth going to the stade it was anything but on the way back. Free shuttle buses took us there but after was a nightmare due to having to leave the ground by a different route.  We ended up walking in the wrong direction and having to get the Metro back into centre ville where all the restaurants and bars had to close at midnight.  Everyone was wanting a taxi and after 1hour and 15minutes in a queue we managed to get a taxi back to the hotel for 2.30am and so to bed at 3.30am.  It had been a long day.

Sunday 19 June 2016 – The Russian’s are here!

Once at the hotel little Danny was as excited has I ever seen him.  He shouted me over to the window because the Russian team were staying in the hotel next to ours.  We should have guessed with all the security around – armed police + smart suited heavies that they weren’t there to make sure that Danny didn’t burn his toast. 

This evening the first group came to a close with France v Switzerland.  For this game we went to a nearby bar that handily served Affligem and this became my official Father’s Day drink.by the end of the evening we were able to re-enact our Gareth’s free kick against Slovakia with the help of an apple!

Sunday 19 June 2016 – Another carousel

Another early start but thanks to Sue giving us a lift in Combourg we’re able to leave the car at La Boudonniere..  Even though it was an early start there was still time to read my Father’s Day cards and messages. First stop was Montparnasse (again).  As we came out of Montparnasse there was another carousel, he begged, I gave in (again). 

After another raspberry juice it was back into the station for our five and a half hour journey to Toulouse.  Like all our French trains so far everything was on time.  Once again helpful staff at the information office in the gare made sure that we able to reach our destination by the most efficient route.   

 

Saturday 18 June 2016 – zzzzzzz

A day of relaxation – sleeping, writing, listening to music and watching the Euro’s and ready for yet another early start in the morning.

Friday 17 June 2016 – Danny plays football

This was certainly a train with a difference.  Danny was feeling hungry so I took him to la restaurant voiture for a dragon snack.  In there was a football pitch and Danny begged for me to let him play.  He has been so excited after going to all these games.

After a tiring match Danny decided he had had enough and fell asleep in my bag.  He slept for the rest of the relaxing journey and we arrived back at Bazouge around 6.00pm.

Friday 17 June 2016 – A prayer for Fair Play

Back to base day so not too stressful.  Kind old Paul and Phil with yet another lift to the station as they set off on their trek back to Kenilworth via Calais.  Decided to have breakfast in Hazebrouck but prepared for it with a coffee with our matey down at the Aux Trois Roi, where the first coffee of the day is free.  Brekkie was in a nearby boulangerie and an interesting talk with the owner and his wife about brexit.  They wanted the UK to stay. 
1^st stop Lille where the station is a French version of St Pancras. 

From there into Lille Cathedral which had a prayer for fair play. 

 Lille is a very anglicised city in terms of its shops and it is surprising to find the cathedral dating from the 14^th century in its midst.  There was enough time to light a candle in memory of sadly missed relatives and for a few moments silence to remember happy memories of them. 

 A walk down the wide avenue to Gare de Lille Europe, via the Fanzone, the walk becoming a run as the heavens opened and the roof of the gare became porous.  For our return the train was direct to Rennes.  The route took us around the outskirts of Paris stopping and Charles de Gaulle airport and Disneyland Paris. 

Thursday 16 June 2016 – They think it’s all over, it isn’t yet …

In the rain Lens looked very miserable and uninviting but like most places the exterior hid a friendly mining town, very much like Barnsley, with it’s mining history decimated but unlike Barnsley the French government has opened a Louvre of the north in the town. 

Not surprisingly the bars throughout the town were awash with England and Cymru fans.  Presumably when the Mayor had decreed the town be dry for all the Euro games in Lens the bar owners had responded with a resounding “Non”.  Interestingly in the local kebab house we met up with two England fans from Barnsley.  I told you this Euro tournament is making the world a smaller place.

 

The walk to the ground was down a wide avenue with plenty of gendarmerie present.  The weather along the avenue began to improve the sun came out and the waterproofs went away.  Once through security Danny found two giant friends who he had a dance with.  I was most impressed, maybe we’ll be visiting a. club later.

After accessing the stade we made our visit the tv gantry and then to our seats. 

 Who was there again but my mate Matt, who kindly took more pictures of me and Danny in our seats with the sea of red behind us. Sadly a game lasts for 93 minutes not just 90 and so we all know the story and heartbreak of Danny Sturridge in the 93^rd minute.  It even started to rain again as we left the ground. 




Security was just as tight on the way back and entry to the station was easy as long has you understood French and how the railways work.  Only had to give a wide berth to a gendarme who said  “Please move clear of the dog”, although to be fair it was muzzled.  At Hazebrouck we revisited the Aux Trois Roi to watch the Germany v Poland game.  Uneventful except for the West Ham “fans” wanting to fight amongst themselves.  Reason prevailed and they went their separate ways leaving us in peace.  To finish the eveingn we got return journey back to the Auberge with Phil and Paul with Sean wedged into the back with Clive and I. 

 

Thursday 16 June 2016 – Here we don’t go

Heavy rain this morning but a lift with Phil and Paul it meant no taxi and dry all the way to the station in every way!  For the first time there was a problem with the Hazebrouck – Lens train with problems on the line but after a 30 minute delay and change of train we were on our way.  Danny managed to make some new friends from England on the train; they really liked him and asked to have their pictures taken with him.

Then two French Mademoiselles asked if they could have a picture with him, Danny’s French must be improving.

  

Wednesday 15/06/2016 – Allez Les Bleus (avec un taxi!)

After a short bus ride we arrived back at the Auberge de Foret and Danny was excited to be greeted by some ducks on the grass verge next to the hotel.  They weren’t scared of him and they quickly made friends. 

 After checking in we caught the bus back to Hazenbrouck and waited for Clive to arrive back on the train from Lille.  Danny decided this was his bedtime so he quickly went to sleep in my bag.  For the evening game we settled into the bar Aux Trois Roi (The Three Kings) and settled down with a group of French, English and Welsh to watch the France v Albania match.  Another fantastic evening watching the football with a late goal confirming a 2-0 victory for Les Bleus. 

 By the time the game finished at 10.50pm it was taxi time back to the hotel.  The two French lads we had been watching with insisted that they would drive us back to the Auberge. They proved to be our second set of anges gardiens francais It was straight to bed for us but not for the German lads with their crate of beer, although they did calm down after the hotel manager paid them a visit.  Strangely in the Euro draw they had got random tickets for Cymru v England and Russia v Cymru.  Like us they would be heading down to Toulouse.

Wednesday 15/06/2016 – Danny’s Big Day Out

This was to be Danny’s Big Day Out.  Clive had decided to go to the Russia v Slovakia  in Lille so Danny and I had decided to explore Hazebrouck.  He really enjoyed the bus ride and our first stop was the Jardin Public, which opened in 1929.  The first friend he made were some goats in the park who were pretty chilled about seeing a dragon.  Then we met the swans on the lake in the Jardin, he was disappointed because we had forgotten to take any bread with us .                  
                                                                                                             

Time for a play and we found a Thomas the Tank engine to play, he spent a long time on the engine!  Before going for our dinner we visited the ground of S.C. Hazebrouck. 

 

 

Danny got fed up of waiting for the game to start so we set off to our original hotel. 

After a short bus ride we arrived the Auberge de Foret and Danny was excited to be greeted by some ducks on the grass verge next to the hotel.  They weren’t scared of him and they quickly made friends.  After checking in we caught the bus back to Hazenbrouck and waited for Clive to arrive back on the train from Lille.

Tuesday 14/06/2016 – No room at the inn

The ultimate destination this week is Lens on Thursday but today it’s the first leg to Hazenbrouck, a small town close to the border with Belgium in Flandres.  It’s an easy enough journey with the main concern being the transfer from Montparnasse to Gare du Nord.  If ever you need to make the transfer don’t worry it really is easy – just follow the signs and buy your metro ticket on the train into Paris.  The biggest disappointment was due to messaging failures we weren’t able to meet up with David and Simon on Gare du Nord. While we waited for the train Danny tried to climb on board to drive the train, as that wasn’t allowed he spent some time speaking in French giving people information as to where they could catch their trains.

Hazenbrouck is a very inviting town and we used that invitation in a number of bars, Danny even having time for a raspberry juice, before getting a taxi to our hotel, the Auberge de Foret. 

Upon arrival we were greeted by the deep intake of breath that precedes bad news.  Yes the hotel did have a confirmation of our booking for the next three nights but due to an oversight on their part there was no room for us tonight.  The hotelier efficiently sorted the problem and within minutes we were in a taxi and booked into the Hotel Gambrinus in the town centre for the evening.

Monday 13/06/2016 – Relaxing at La Boudonniere

Monday was even quieter than Sunday.  Danny spent a lot of time practising breathing fire but gave up because it was far too hot to play those games.  In the morning Patrick, who we are staying, showed Danny a baby toad that had been hopping around the lake and in the evening Sue, Patrick’s partner, made us a wonderful mushroom risotto.

Sunday 12/06/2016 – A lazy day, only one panic!

Sunday was a day of rest, if you can ever calling travelling restful.  The only worry of the day was the Bordeaux – Montparnasse train – we were on the wrong train or so it seemed.  The train was in fact two joined together with a unit in between so we couldn’t get to our pre-booked seats as the train was non-stop to Montparnasse.  The worry being that we would be charged for being on the wrong/same train.  Danny was the most relaxed but he was certainly hungry by the time we arrived in back Bazouge-la Perouse.

I'm hungry and want to get home.

Saturday evening 11/06/2016 – Uber appy

The FanZone was large enough to accommodate everyone who wanted to watch the game (England v Russia) and there were quite a number of English in the zone.  The views were good with one very large screen in the major area.  After getting into the ground Clive was barred entry from the Fanzone for ……. having a stick in his A4 sized flag but after negotiation in French the stick was left by the entrance to be collected later.  At half time we decided to make our way to a bar to watch the 2^nd half before heading home.  We settled into a pleasant bar around the corner from the bus stop and watched the game.  10 minutes before the end I left to check the timetable and guess what.  Give yourself a pat on the back if you said “the buses have gone on strike”. In terms of mine and Clive’s knees things were looking decidedly dodgy.  Plan A – get a tram to the nearest point to our hotel.  Tram back to Fanzone and then out but the last final stop would have been too far away.  Off the tram, onto another tram and back to the Fanzone!!  Poor old Danny couldn’t keep up with all this and fell asleep for the night in Clive’s bag.  In between the two plans we discovered that Russia had equalised with the very last kick of the match.   Plan B – let’s get a taxi.  Love nor money, rocking horse poo and the UK winning the Eurovision spring to mind.  No taxis were to be seen anywhere.  Clive’s idea was to try a café to call us a cab.  Step forward Bistro Regent.  If ever you’re in Bordeaux make sure to visit this place on La Victoire.  The two girls tried every taxi firm without success.  One of the girls enquired “Do you have uber?”.  So in a café in Bordeaux I downloaded the app, signed up and the cab was with us within six minutes.  Many thanks to the girls and a large tip for saving our knees and we were on our way back.  Obviously Clive is much more of a night owl and bon viveur than me and recognising this the taxi driver asked if he would like to go to a casino.  Fortunately for me he said “Non”.  And so it proved to be that my last meal of the day had been the sausage and fries!

Saturday 3.00pm, 11/06/2016 – THE GAME v Slovakia

After 58 years to be at the final stage of a competition was momentous.  The area behind the goal was a sea of red and the crowd were the 12th man even before the game had begun. A strong start was what was needed and we got exactly that.  Everyone was singing and on their feet and the team was doing their bit to keep the atmosphere going. I was on my feet but mainly because I was in seat 28 and the numbering seemed to stop at 27.  A free kick to Cymru and the guy next to me says “Who’s going to take this!!” and as we laughed the ball curved into the back of the net from Gareth’s sweetly hit free kick.  The tempo continued until half time, the new stade at Bordeaux is designed so that everyone can walk around it and you can meet up with friends at halftime.  Danny got his picture taken after we had met up with Gareth and Clive and he wondered why it is that at every game these days the pitch has to be given an half-time soaking, even when it’s raining.  For the second half upon returning to my seat, but actually not my seat I discovered that I had managed to circumvent security and get into the wrong area!  As everyone was now seated I had a bit of a problem but was able to extract myself from the area and find my real seat, yes there was a seat 28.  Two seats away from where I should have been was my mate Matt from Cyprus – strange how France is making this world seem smaller.

 

Our 2^nd half performance was more jaded and Slovakia managed a deserved equaliser.  The turnaround came when the only man I’ve ever seen walk off the pitch with a broken leg, step forward Joe Ledley, came on as a substitute to inspire the team and the fans.  To keep the dream alive and the romance the Welsh odyssey alive the goal-scorer was Hal Robson-Kanu, of the famous chant fame and strangely enough the only man at Euro 16 unattached because no team wants him.  Form a queue the managers now waiting to sign him.  A 2-1 victory.   After meeting up with Bob, Ada and Jane we made our way to the tram for the journey back into Bordeaux and the FanZone.

Saturday afternoon 11/06/16 – Search me and let me in

First thoughts …… the security looks more impressive than it really is.  Just like back home it appears that the Gendarmerie today is made up of guys pissed off that their day off has been cancelled, some counting the overtime Euros going into their bank accounts and the psychos happy to be stood around holding sub  machine guns.  Au revoir at the first checkpoint to my water (as expected).as I get searched to enter the area around the ground.  Clive gets searched also and eventually  they let him in with his flag + pole, camera, coat, fridge magnets, half and half scarf, maps, his  collection of Euro brochures and mostly importantly Danny the Dragon.  Only thing I can’t understand is why Clive’s queue is now much longer than mine?   While Clive goes off to scout the area I join the refreshments queue.  Forty minutes as arranged Clive re-joins me still an impressive distance from getting served.  Virtually one hour later we’re served.  This might be my last meal of the day, so it's sausage baguette and fries, it turns out to be true but I’ll not spoil the fun by telling you now. 

 

Access to the ground itself was easy but what a mountain of steps.  The exterior has many thin pillars that are meant to reflect the pines that forested this area before the stade was completed in 2015.  Ticket in, green light and away I go.

Saturday morning 11/06/16 – What would you have as a tattoo?

Bright eyed and bushy tailed we were on the road to the stade by 12, after Clive had proved that he could sleep for Cymru.  Guess what – no trams today but the bus got us into centre ville. We shared our journey with some Slovakians, this made for an interesting ride.  Looking at the bare armed guy, that couldn’t be a tattoo of Hitler could it?  Sure enough it showed Hitler being driven in a staff car with the registration number (wait for it) 1939.  Welcome to the European Union Slovakia!!!   Once safely off the bus we had a direct route to the fanzone.  A pleasant walk through narrow streets with a variety of shops but without the charity shops, estate agents and Poundshops, I’m talking about you Crookes!  Do you know the problem when there are so many fans in one place?  Getting served at a bar, particularly when all you want is a coffee.  In the Place Grand Theatre there was a wonderful old carousel ornately decorated but sadly with few customers. First surprise of the day was that the trams were running from the Fanzone to the stade.  Given that this was our first game we were on the tram by 2.30pm for the 6.00pm kick off, but not before Clive had managed to track down a Cymru flag to join us on our voyages and Danny had managed to have a ride on the carousel.  Adding to my Bordeaux transport memories the vehicle was yet again overcrowded with standing room only.  But we made it and who cares about how you get there as long as you do.

Friday Evening 10/06/16 – Trap racing is a favourite of mine

With the strike we decided to stay local – quite a challenge given the suburban nature of where we were staying on the edge of Bordeaux by the Rocade.  Our nearest (and only) eatery was MacDonalds.  Fifteen minutes away was a choice of Kebab and pizzeria takeaways.  We decided to try the first bar we came to at 19.45, although the proprietors were tidying away to close at 20.00.  Drinking up time though proved to be generous.  In truth it was a small friendly place used by locals.  Surprisingly for footie loving Clive and I this was probably the only bar in France not showing Les Bleus opening game of the Euros.  Until now I had no idea how entertaining trap racing could be or how much money some people would gamble on it.  With no trams we were marooned so it was back to the hotel and their tv and bar.  It was like being at home, although if you know my place it was much more comfortable!!  The manager told us to use the luxury seats in the lounge and proceeded to turn the tv around until we were able to tell him that it was perfectly positioned.  To make it the perfect start to the Euros his prime beer was Affligem.......bliss.  The night game passed too quickly with a trickle of fellow Cymru fans passing through the bar on their way back.  Oh yes, and to finish the night I had a Big Mac and fries, but Clive decided I’d eaten enough junk food and scoffed the fries!!  So to bed with the Cymru flag flying proudly from our window.

Friday 10/06/16 – Here we go, here we go……

Another day and another journey with yet again an early start.  Combourg even with the commuters and a light drizzle looked as beautiful as yesterday with the chateau dominating the view of the town.  Our double decker train was on time with no commuter crush and the change at Rennes for Paris Montparnasse straightforward.  The only issue in Paris was finding the train, even though they are quite big this one had no platform and it didn’t appear to be heading to Bordeaux.  Our Inrun bound express stopping at Bordeaux left 10 minutes late but at least it was running. First impressions of SNCF and local trains is that they are clean and plenty of seats for passengers.  Danny the Dragon enjoyed his journey down and even got a seat to himself for part of the journey. 

 

Strangely on arrival in Bordeaux we discovered that the station was being modernised, what a time to do it!!  Helpful staff were able to give us directions to the hotel – by bus as the Metro was on strike.  Major downside to the bus was that EVERYONE was using it.  It’s not easy to fight your way on to a bus with a flightbag and then keep your balance, but believe me it can be done.  35 minutes though of it is a test of Krypton Factor proportions.  Always be positive though and we could see the hotel from where the bus stopped.  Within 10 minutes we were checked in and Danny was enjoying the view.

 

Panic over!!

Oh what a day, late June back in 16!!  Required 2 Railcards where no-one speaks a common language. Eventually after going through every permutation of ticket numbers, rail tickets, postcodes, credit cards, names and shoe sizes with the help of  Marcel who spoke a common language we realised the ticket office guy needed a number that was on an e-mail.  I managed to get an internet connection in the station to download, lost it for a "Feckin" while, at which point Marcel commented that he understood my French as I was now speaking as though French was my native language.  For the first time on this trip it was cooler outside than in when we left the station!!  Biggest slap in the face for me?  Travellin wi strong accented Geordie boy Clive who helped explain to Marcel what we wanted.  A started tellin im wot we wanted an ar wi wer gerrin no weer wi this fella when Marcel said "Sorry, but I don't understand your accent"   Eventually mission accomplished successfully so back to the tour with Clive and Y Goch.   



Visited two beautiful places today, Bazouge and Combourg.  The church at Bazouge and the Chateau and lake at Combourg. 



Our new pal Danny the Dragon was most impressed.

A thirsty Danny the Dragon.

Bonjour Caen

If the heat didn't stop me sleeping the excitement certainly did.  Early start with an accident at the first roundabout but that didn't set the tone for the day.  Our new fellow traveller was the first up and ready, unfortunately not Charlotte Church!!  Bangor, Wrexham and Swansea dragons were all on the ferry with the mist they were about the only things that we could see on the crossing.  Once off the ferry the sun quickly burnt away the cloud as we sped south to  Bazouges and the sat nav got us on our way to the gite via a surprised couple next door who wondered who was AirBnBin  their house while they were at home.  Problem rectified we moved next door to where Sue was waiting for us with our welcome pack.  If it wasn't for the football I could spend the next few weeks here relaxing.

 Who am I??

Portsmouth ahoy!!

Not often you can say " That was a dream drive from Sheffield to Portsmouth."  Everyone must have been warned that the Cymru army was on the move.   If I want to get picky, it was (and still is) too hot and the rain was too heavy around Oxford.  The only fly in the ointment was my forgetfulness leaving my pics behind for the French Raillcard but Tesco Extra, Portsmouth came to my rescue.  Picked up a fellow Cymru traveller on the way. They're too shy to tell us their name but I may get a pic of them for tomorrow.  You need to wait and see..................

Getting ready to go!

Less than 24 hours to go.  Cymru, England  and N Ireland are already in their camps and by Wednesday Clive and I will be too. Pre-travel plans all made and passports at the ready, even JP has had a wash and brush up - she needs to be on her best behaviour for the next 6 weeks. Final farewells made and so to bed..............