Well dang nab, if the month didn’t slip through our fingers at lightning speed. Where winter seemed to have dragged its ever loving patootie slow enough to feel like a year’s worth, summer is galloping faster than the four horsemen. And, in honor of our Paris 2024 Olympics, the photo above.
On the 2nd, a Tuesday, we watched a student orchestra and parade of bands, performers and every Lille sport federation and association in le nord make their way down our street heralding the arrival of the Olympic torch. We watched the runner make his way past our balcony and then saw him light the torch of the next athlete waiting for him at the bend before they both continued out of our sights.
This month we also had the continuation of the Euro 2024 futbol tournaments (the 2024 Copa America was also going on in the americas) and France played Portugal in the quarter finals at the beginning of July and won on penalties then lost to Spain in the semifinals soon afterwards. This was Kylian Mbappé’s last game with Paris Saint-Germain as he had signed to go on to Real Madrid on July 16. Spain went on to beat England 2-1 on July 14 in the final. Of course we had to watch all of the games and in the end we were cheering on Spain as their youngest player, 16-year old Lamine Yamal, scored one of two winning goals against France and in the England matchup, he had just turned 17 the day before and was the youngest in a final. It was fun to watch such great and exciting games and talent!
We decided last month that we would make a point of eating out and choosing places to eat that we’d never tried. Our old regular, Le Pot Beaujolais, right around the corner, permanently closed in March after 32 years of service. We will miss it and their great service. So far we’re 3 for 3 on the restaurants, having tried Chez Brigitte in old Lille, Bleu Canard around the corner and Péniche Archiméde housed in a barge on the canal. Each place had a wonderful menu to chose from and everything we ate was superb. On le 14 juillet (Bastille Day), which is similar to the 4th of July in the states, we loved the fireworks from our balcony viewpoint. Never get tired of that. And, the video-mapping for the Olympics began.
Our excursions were small because we took a while to recover from last month’s activities and were not in the mood for frantic activity. We also had no French language lessons and won’t until next year, so we enjoyed that respite as well. The bicycle tires got pumped and readied but we just couldn’t summon the umph. The plaza would erupt in bouts of Operatic music which was to support celebration in advance of the upcoming Olympic events. There was no way that we (or any other sane person) would push into Paris and the crush of the Olympic crowd. We got to watch the opening ceremony on TV and it was simply beautiful. The abundance of color in the arts, dances and songs, was just astounding.
Not all of the Olympic events are happening in Paris. We, in Lille, have the men’s and women’s basketball (and handball) teams playing here. Big names on both men’s and women’s teams with Brittney Griner on the US Women’s Team. Although this is her 3rd Olympics (she’s played on other nation’s teams), it’s her first since her Russia imprisonment. And of course for G, he’s excited to see Steph Curry (his 1st Olympics and probably only one), and Team/Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, on the men’s US Team. Each team won their 1st of 3 games here – US Men’s vs Serbia, and US Women’s vs Japan.
Home projects didn’t end this month. We had received several 50th Anniversary gifts and there were a couple that I wanted to notably share with people who visit our apartment. You’ll see those below. You can ask me about the 2nd if you’re interested. From one of our French friends.
As well, we began or continued other projects that have been hanging around – G to fix a regular leak in the WC sink that he had worked on previously, and me – to begin to learn how to use a new sewing machine that I ordered to complete some patterns that I had and wanted to get done. Unfortunately, our great fabric shop around the corner from our place is permanently closing next month so I need to get there real soon.
Hot weather has returned and we had to break out the A/C on July 30. It got up to 91°F and there was no wind so no chance for a cross breeze. G is always amused by the continuous action on our main street, so when a new shop opened up below, of course he filmed it. So goes Lille…
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