Paris Scenes: Le Puppeteer

A Good Use for a Camera Bag

Had to put all the wine somewhere when we were walking around today...

Paris Scenes: Le Monstre Sacre

Metro-Creep

We haven't figured out the bikes yet but we have mastered the metro. For some reason, the signs adopted by the French have decided to use creepy font...hmmm.

Paris Scenes: Wallace Fountains

Action shots from the Wallace Fountains spread throughout the city.

Paris Scenes: Rue Mouffetard

Paris Scenes: Le Crêperie

Île de la Cité and Saint-Louis

Spending time on Ile de la Cite means that you will be spending a lot of time with the rest of the summer tourist crowd but it was well worth it. Sainte-Chapelle, tucked in the middle of the island draws a long line and there is a reason. The chapel (above and below) is absolutely amazing.

Here are a couple of photos with Notre Dame in the background, taken from Île Saint-Louis.

Les Mots de Paris

Me: So did you enjoy Notre Dame?
My Wife: Every time I see a place like that I want to break out a pressure washer.

Paris Scenes: J-Adore Paris

Paris Scenes: Motocyclette

Paris Scenes: La Cremerie

Paris Scenes: First Supper

Our waiter was kind enough to take our picture at dinner tonight, in addition to coaching both of us on some of the finer points of eating in the city. We still have a long way to go, but at least we got some of the awkward moments out of the way. So far, all stereotypes regarding the French being a little standoff-ish have not played out at all. In fact, the guy who checked us into our hotel room even upgraded us to a room with a nice little balcony. Must be the suave use of my HS French lessons!

Paris Scenes

Well, the first day is sometimes the hardest because you don't want to give in to jet lag. We went immediately to our hotel and waited for our room to be ready. While we waited, I went and caught a pick up football game in the Tuileries Gardens. Age range was from 12 to 50. I decided to sit out and just watch rather than join the game.

For better or for worse, as soon as the room was ready, we took a 2 hour nap and then headed out into the city. We were hunting for a pub to watch the US vs Brazil game. In the end, we found an expat bar called the Moosehead and were glad to find that others in the bar were also cheering for the US. Prior to the game though, we stumbled on this place. Let me tell you, the pastries and chocolates were amazing.


Following the game (and what a great game it was), we walked back through the gardens and around the Louvre, which is beautiful at night. Here is a shot of a sculpture found in the gardens.


No plans for tomorrow. At the top of Carlee's list is to find fresh raspberries! On the top of my list is to figure out the bike rental program. So far, our credit card does not work so that is a little odd.

Sitting in an...

..expat bar in Paris getting ready for the US vs Brazil kickoff. Go US!!!

Football in Paris

Just scored a bar recommendation via a comment exchange on Soccer by Ives for watching the US game tonight in Paris. My wife is super resourceful!

What happened to the countdown?

When this post hits BOB, the countdown (originally started on April 26th) on the right will have hit zero...not sure what happens to it when it reaches that stage and I won't be able to check since we will be on the plane! It's like a mini-Y2K conundrum. I wonder what the programmer of the countdown widget planned for.

Paris: The Collected Traveler

A friend of ours was kind enough to lend us this book (Paris: The Collected Traveler: An Inspired Anthology and Travel Resource) for our trip. In addition to the casual fiction and an essay on writing by Milan Kundera, this is the other set of reading material I have decided to take with me. The book combines a series of published essays related to traveling in Paris with detailed practical information so it is a little more meaty and more of an enjoyable read than a straight Frommers or something like that. Pretty excited about it.

Stowaway

We are packing for Paris tonight and our stowaway doesn't seem so excited...apparently she prefers Woof 'N Whiskers to France!

Onyewu Scorpion Kick Clear vs. Spain

If anyone can find video of Onyewu's scorpion kick clearance in the 44th minute vs Spain, please let me know where to see it. Thanks.

Bradley Red Card vs. Spain

I'm sorry, but this was just the worst call I have ever seen. Why in the world is this a red card?!?!?

US Beats Spain 2-0!!!!

One of the biggest wins in the history of our program. Amazing game!!!!!!

Blackout

I will be watching the US game on tape delay this evening, so I am officially trying to stay away from all internet connections, social media, etc... Let the blackout begin. If you communicate with me via text message or any other means about soccer, please wait until about 10 PM Central. Thanks!

US vs Egypt (3-0) Highlights

Relive all three goals as much as you want. And man, the composure by Bradley on the second and that magnificent header by Dempsey are worth watching at least another 2 or 3 times. I am still in disbelief that we went from last in the bracket with a -5 goal differential to advancing to the semis.

Now, when I look back on the bracket, we lost to to two of the top 5 teams in the world this past week...and in both games we ended up playing with 10 men. And then look at how badly Brazil smoked Italy. Does our loss to Brazil look a little less intimidating? Maybe we are not as bad as we were looking, maybe we are. Regardless, we are headed to the semis and about to play the number 1 team in the world. I hope we can keep 11 on the pitch so that we can get a true measure of our team.

US Advances in Confederations Cup!

Holy Cow. I am in complete and utter shock. The US has advanced in the Confederations Cup due to a 3-0 win over Egypt and Brazil's 3-0 win over Italy. Unreal. The odds were impossible and the impossible just happened.

Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can't See Land

Heard this song for the first time on the ever great I am Fuel, You are Friends. Would love to hear the studio version if I could find it. Cool tune. Happy Saturday.

Judas

Via our friend pele1410, you can now get your very own Judas t-shirt to commemorate Rossi's great act of treason to his country.

Fugazi - Waiting Room

Been enjoying this classic and a few others from Fugazi this week. Loved it back in school and it still kicks now. Enjoy.

You may think it odd...

You may think it odd to know that during my wife's birthday weekend she volunteered to stain the fence in the backyard while I watched the Confederations Cup...

...and I guess you would be right. Hats off to her though, she did an awesome job and the fence looks great! I must be the luckiest man alive.

Jozy is watching you...

Recreating *The* Goal

Took me a while to find an example goal that even compares to the amazing goal that my wife scored tonight during the 7v7 coed league here in Lafayette. I had to turn to Lionel Messi to find an example that even closely resembles the genius she showed on her breakaway finish where she chipped the keeper. It was amazing. Here is what it looked like.

What not to do in a wall....

You will see exactly what not to do about 32 seconds into this video. Big mistake.

Link:

The National - The Runaway

The National has risen to the top of my favorite bands in recent years and their newest song, while very mellow, does nothing but further strengthen their position on my list. Enjoy.

Rooney v Kazakhstan

I don't think I have ever seen someone score a goal like this. Watch all of the replays. Rooney pulls some sort of tae kwon do move - possibly a spinning crescent kick. Check it out.

New Pearl Jam Song - Got Some

In case you missed it.



And then they hung out later and kicked it with Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World."

Estadio Saprissa

The US MNT takes on Costa Rica tonight in a World Cup qualifier at the Estadio Saprissa, a stadium we have never won in before. Soccer By Ives posted some photos of the stadium. It looks like a prison. Check it out.

Don't Tread on Me.

Matt and Kim - Daylight

I'm going to continue the commercial theme here and highlight this tune from Matt and Kim that I caught on TV tonight for the new Bacardi Mojito commercial. Matt and Kim were featured on a long ago Monthly Mix that existed before BOB...so I don't even have a post to refer to it. If you have a copy of that old mix, the tune that was on it was called Yea Yeah. I have posted the video right underneath the Daylight video. You can download both tracks in mp3 format via the links found on their website. Enjoy.

Biz Markie - Just A Friend

This song has been on TV lately and I am posting it here since the commercial keeps getting me to wish I could hear the whole song. Late 80's radio friendly rap at its finest.

Siblings

Portraits of Karen

Here are some photos of our good friend Karen hanging out at Three Mile Lake.

Above: Holding tight to Big Bertha as we cruised out on the bayou.
Below: She wasn't excited about this picture.