Paris!

Reading the bracket outside of "the bullring"

Paris!

What a great place to be, any day any time. I’ve been to Paris just once before when I was 10 and it is exactly how I remember it. The large cobbled streets with Vespa’s whizzing past trying to run you off the road as if you had a large target painted in bright red on your butt, the baguette shops enticing wandering pedestrians from the street with the smell of freshly baked bread and pastries. I love it! We’re staying in Montmartre, which is a small neighborhood that sits atop a hill in the north of the city. Once again, we are in the 7^th floor apartment, but it’s worth the climb. Out of our kitchen window we can see straight across to La Tour Eiffel and below the River Seine, which winds its way here and there throughout the city always making surprise appearances where you least expect it. The apartment is actually somebody’s room that they live in part time, so it has all those funky quirks that all lived in places have, like the chair that falls apart when you sit on it or the light that randomly turns off, but as in any home it gives the place a feeling of comfort and hominess.

(from left to right) Tsonga, Federer and Del Potro

Yesterday we went to the French open! It was amazing I couldn’t believe that we were actually there among some of the best athletes in the world. The Roland Garros was really nice and we got to watch some great matches. Unfortunately though we were only able to gain access to the outer grounds because to get into the two main stadiums costs at least $200 more. Fortunately though yesterday was the first day that “the bull ring” was free to enter so we were able to get in and watched the semi-finals doubles match between the Bryan Brothers(US) and two guys from Argentina. It was crazy how good they were and how hard they hit the ball.  Watching on TV doesn’t even come close to experiencing it live! We got to watch Sharapova (one of the top women tennis players in the world) practice returning serves and getting advice from her coach (imagine having that job!). We  had a lunch of overpriced ham and cheese sandwiches in the square in front of the main screen where we watched  Stosur cream Ciblulkova and helped cheer her on. But I have to say; the highlight of the day was watching Tsonga (French) play Djokovic (#1 in the world).  When they entered the stadium the announcers were drowned out in the wave of cheers and screams that broke out. At the same time they introduced Federer and Del Potro in the other arena much to the same effect. We were able to watch both matches from the square while hearing both stadiums cheer for every point won or lost in the game. On the main court Tsonga was doing great and even had four match points. The whole crowd was cheering him on and yelling, “allez Tsonga, allez Tsonga”. There must have been thousands of people watching the match but it was amazing how quiet it would get during a point and afterword’s the explosion of noise and cheers or the communal sigh.  Unfortunately, Tsonga lost the set in a tiebreaker and from then on everybody knew it was over.  Djokovic won the next set 6-1.  Tsonga looked utterly defeated as he walked out but the crowd cheered him on as if he were the winner.

Watching the match outside of the stadium

After the match was over I rushed around and actually managed to sneak into the stadium. Djokovic was still there talking to the press and I tried to get down but there was only one path and it was clogged with people coming up so I didn’t manage to get his autograph. It made me think; when I’m older I want to be someone like that, where even the mere sight of me can inspire someone.  

It was an exhausting and exhilarating day; we had stayed there the full 8 hours that the park was open. We took the tube back to Abbesses Street and had dinner at the same place we had the night before, we were just too tired to search out anything new.

The biggest stadium at Roland Garros

Happy Fathers day everyone!