Reims - Game Day

Unfortunately, I did not sleep well and was up to 5:30am to look for different hotel options. Finally, I found something that looked okay but still pretty pricey, but in the city and not at the airport. After some back and forth later with others, we pulled the trigger on it and at least had a place to stay. It was generally another late start for our group and it will be an earlier game tonight (6pm). There was a place called the Harold restaraunt that we wanted to tried last time we were in Reims. We tried to head out to about 10:30am, but with various delays and finding out that it was "open" but not serving food until 12pm, we strolled in about 15 minutes before that. Phil and Kate had already given up on the place - they had a bunch of reserved seating for locals it seemed... We waited it out and had a very enjoyable meal (though we sat at different tables).

Afterwards we met Phil and Kate in the main square, some decided to visit the Museum of the Surrender. As you might have heard, it is pretty hot here not (feels much hotter, muggier than the temperature indicates. The 0.6 mile walk in the sunshine was a bit much for some of the group. The museum was "air conditioned" I guess, but was very warm still. The tour starts with a very informative video that explains that the surrender of the Germans in World War II actually occurred in Reims (Rheims). But it was done quasi-secretly to get the Germans time (2 days) to evaluate and evade capture by the Russians. The secret didn't keep and the end was announced the next day and a second, open ceremony was performed in Berlin. The museum itself was very small, but you can see the room where the unconditional surrender was signed.

Just a little bit of time for gelatto and Champange (separately for different people) before heading back to the hotel to freshen up for the big game. The time has come for the elimination rounds! It is very warm indeed with our seats facing into the sun. Some stop for food and are taken back by the inefficiency of the process. The person that takes the order, collects the money, then gets the food (waiting for it to be cooked), then compiles it and then serves it to the customer, and after that customer is done, the next customer's order is taken.... about 30 minutes to get through a line of about 8 people...

The stadium seats are really to small again - managable - except for the people eating - perhaps you can see all the ketchup spills on Rishaun's new jersey? He is all legs and really the seats were too little (seats are on top of concrete blocks so no room underneath either). The location is good in the stadium - third row, just shy of the center circle.

Assuming you know that we squeaked this one out. It is a strange feeling that the referee was really poor but yet, we got 2 penalty kicks. I really think our players were beat up and the refereee did not protect them, but in regards to the PKs, I thought they were favorable for us. Good for our traveling group as we plan to go as far as the USA does...

It just a short walk to the hotel but people are tired from the sun in our face the second half as well as the aforementioned hike. Rishaun suggest getting Pizza and staying at the hotel (watching the next game there). Which is fine for some of the group, so we just relax there to watch the game. I got the best "deal" so far - with a Tower of Beer and an nice antipasta tray for 20 euros...