Saturday 09/07/2016 – A sunny afternoon in Paris

For the first (and only) time we weren’t on the 08.14 train to Paris.  We had a lie in to catch the 09.51.  Another first - we were booked to travel first class. 

Our journey, as is the norm was on time and without drama.  Our arrival was in bright sunshine and after his customary ride on the on the carousel we set off to explore Montparnasse market. 

Danny found it difficult to choose something to eat as there was so much choice.  We checked into Hotel Clairefontaine again and Danny had a fly around the patio and balcony.  With the sun shining we decided to head to the Eiffel Fanzone to check it out for tomorrow.  The Metro took us quickly from the Gait Metro direct to the Eiffel.  On exiting the metro we were greeted by the impressive site of the Eifel Tower rising out of the trees. 

 

As we got closer we were able to see the giant footballs hung below the Tower.  There was no time to stop though because Danny was pestering me get to the fanzone. 

The sheer size of it amazed us both and the fact that it was closed in preparation for the final tomorrow. 

Overcoming our disappointment we walked around the boundaries of the fanzone, fortunately Danny decided not to fly over the fence!!  While I wasn’t looking Danny decided on a bit of mischief and decided to put a sticker of the previous Barnsley manager, Lee Johnson, on an entrance information board. 

With that I thought that it was time that we headed back to Montparnasse.

Friday 08/07/2016 – A fright for Danny

On this day after a long lie in we ventured to Dol de Bretagne birthplace of the House of Stewart, the Kings and Queens of Scotland from 1371 to 1714. 

 Ironic real that two weeks previously the UK had opted to say “Au revoir” to Europe when in fact Europe and the UK had the same origins and a shared history.  Then again sharing is an antithesis to the Brexiteers. 

 

Dol is a picture postcard town with close links to the Celtic nations, as seen with one of its cafes.  As we walked around the streets Danny came across a knight in full armour on horseback. 

After travelling thousands of miles across France he wasn’t going to be scared by this and stood in front of the knight getting ready to give him a severe scorching.  Fortunately for the knight he decided to ride away rather than risk Danny’s anger.  Danny also enjoyed the museum of Dol next to the cathedral that tracks the history of Dol from BC to the present day.  This was one cathedral that we didn’t get to  look around as there was a funeral taking place.  We did however get to look around the Dol Cathedralescope, which again give a comprehensive history of the cathedral.  It took some time for Danny to drop asleep as he was so excited about tomorrow’s trip to Paris for the Euro 16 Final.

Thursday 07/07/2016 – Vieux Lyon

The day was as hot as yesterday.

This didn’t deter us from visiting the old town in Lyon after yet another café breakfast.  We only had two hours but that was plenty of time to visit the old town square and cathedral. 

Danny really enjoyed the old town with its narrow streets and beautiful buildings. 

Inside the cathedral we lit another candle, this time in blue so that we could remember it in the photos when we get back to Rennes.

At Gare de Lyon (Par Dieu) we had to time to buy some dragon snacks for the journey back. 

Danny was excited when he met SuperVictor and had his photo taken with him.  We made sure we got the right part of the train, unlike our journey back from Bordeaux. For the first time we were on a direct train with no changes in Paris and like every other journey the trains were on time, fast and clean. 

 As we travelled back Danny told me how excited he had been with the tournament and he pestered me into taking him to Paris on Sunday for the final even though we didn’t have any tickets.  When we arrived home it was straight to bed for us both. And then planning for the final!!

Wednesday 06/07/2016 evening – THE MATCH

Metro and tram were our route to the ground, which is 7km outside of Lyon and unlike many stadia in France was built and paid for by the club.  It was only opened in February this years and so is the newest of the Euro16 grounds.  In the bright evening sunlight it was an impressive sight. 

Inside the ground Danny and I were lucky enough to once again have seats close to the action, 5 rows back. 

Danny made sure that I told everyone in the UK where we were sitting   He was very happy to see some pictures of his dragon cousin and also Oscar asleep under the dragon blanket.  That made him laugh.

He also liked it when Gareth Bale and the team started their exercises in front of us. We settled down for the game, played out once more in front of a wall of red. 

To reach half-time goalless kept the dream alive.  Two goals in 3 minutes saw that evaporate, everyone decided though that living the dream for the last month had been more than any of us could have realistically expected.  That was why at the end the team were given such rapturous songs, applause and thanks, which the team reciprocated.  They were as disappointed as we were.

What they and the supporters has achieved made up for the loss and as we made our way back to the tram for the first leg of our return journey the Stade stood out as a beacon of our achievements.

Wednesday 06/07/2016 – Danny and his many friends

It was never going to be an early start with the threat of a very late finish and the more likely threat of trams, buses or Metro going on strke!!!  Danny had a croissant and orange juice.  He ate the croissant so quickly that I only managed to get a photograph of his empty glass of orange juice. 

The café was on the route to the ticket collection centre so we had various Cymru fans sitting down with us for a chat whilst they re-hydrated for the walk to the Collection Point. We decided to stay in the café and Danny met lots of new friends.

The proprietor of a Lyon taxi firm had his lunch with us.  His wife was from Didsbury and they had a renovated farm house outside Stratford upon Avon. They hope to open a deli there in the future but Brexit may ruin those plans for them.  He was a true Anglophile and waxed lyrical about the benefits of the UK over France, although the implications of Brexit worried him as his wife had not had a vote.  He had a love a rugby and this was an indicator of his wish that Cymru should emrge victorious from the game.

After he left us we were joined by a group of five fans from Guernsey,  They had won four tickets for each of the semi-finals and had drawn lots to see who missed out on each of the semi’s. 

Time flew by and it was time for our pre-match meal.  Danny thought we had made a wise choice with a jambon pizza.  It looked delicious when we chose it.  After it had been baked the base turned out to be puff pastry – it tasted great but was very, very heavy.  Danny will be flying low tonight. A short rest and we were ready for the very hot and sunny journey to the Stade.

As usual the journey was again by tram and as efficient as we had come to expect. Danny gave a gasp when he first saw the impressive stade in the distance.

Tuesday 05/07/2016 – From the freezer into the oven

A late start this morning, 9.51am from Combourg with a wait of 1 hour plus in Rennes for the direct train to Lyons.  Even allowing for this it’s a quicker journey than driving the 500 miles. The most noticeable thing about the journey struck us as soon as we alighted in Lyon.  We had left Combourg in rain at 17* and we arrived in Lyon to bright sunshine and 27*.  To go and collect the tickets I needed to put on suncream, it was that hot. 

Danny loved the heat and ran straight up the fence telling us the direction to collect tickets. 

With it being so hot we had couple of orange juices before retiring to bed in the air conditioned room.

Friday 01/07/2016 – I Don’t Believe It…HAL ROBSON - HAL ROBSON KANU

Once inside Danny was impressed by the ground and the view that we had. 

Belgium were the first to break the deadlock and at that point the only thought was “Please don’t let it be a rout with the world watching”.  That wasn’t to be.  Slowly working our way back into the game, Ashley Williams, scored the equaliser that made it game on as Cymru pushed on to get another goal before half-time.  Through the 2^nd half the Cymru started to push for the 2^nd.  That goal as a peach from none other than, HAL ROBSON – HAL ROBSON KANU!!!!  What a goal but an header from Sam Vokes made sure that it wasn’t the winner although the quality of the turn and shot made it for many THE GOAL of the tournament. 

The end of the match brought wild celebrations and non-more so than the team the spirit epitomised by Ashley Williams’ and his refusal to be substituted.  A word of thanks to the Belgian fans and their supporters band who played and applauded the Cymru fans out of the Gare de Lille.

So Danny and I made it back to the hotel and a quiet celebration watching a replay of the game.

The next day was warm and sunny so while I packed Danny sat on the edge of the balcony.  I was worried that he may fly away but the promise of dragon treats worked. 

We spent some of the morning looking around Lille before catching the train (just!!).  our train stopped at Charled de Gaulle Airport and Danny was amazed at how empty it was. 

Not too long and then we were back in our gite in Combourg where we spent a restful weekend, if it can be restful attempting to book accommodation in a city which is going to host a semi-final of Euro' 16.  Now it's we're on our way to Lyon for the match with Portugal.