Ok, so this photo might just look like a whole lot of bikes speeding by but they aren't just any bikes, it's the Tour de France. Last Sunday we braved the heat and the crowds to watch the riders go up and down and Champs Elysees for the final part of the final stage. I never really been that interested in the Tour de France but it was pretty cool. I can't believe how many really really dedicated fans there are. We met a group of people that had come all the way from Townsville (yes, that Townsville, in Queensland, Australia) just to see the Tour.
So I quick little update about "le bonjourer"which I mentioned and described in a post a few weeks ago.
We were talking about them again at work today, and it turns out that they already have a name for them in France. Romain, the token Frenchy in our office, informed us this morning. In typical french style it is un jeu des mots (a play on words). It is a play on the phrase vas y (pronounced va-z), the French call bonjourers y-vas (pronounced zy-va), reversing the syllables. It can't really been written correctly as in vas y there is an liaison between the s and the y (making the 'z' sound) which doesn't exist when you write the words in the other order.
They have this title because one of the things they always say is "vas y, vas y", inviting you to come with them. And in true French slang fashion they've simply reversed the syllables.
Personally I prefer the term bonjourer, but I have a feeling that is just because it is easier on my English-speaking brain.
Friday afternoon I headed down to Champs de Mars to meet friends and get a good spot for the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. By the time I arrived at 6 o'clock Champs de Mars was packed, and amazingly not just by tourists. By the time the fireworks started at 10:30pm you couldn't see one pack of grass, just bodies and blankets.
The fireworks were fantastic! so so beautiful!! They were designed to be watched from Champs de Mars with giant speakers set up all the way down to Ecole Militaire playing Mozart. It was perfectly timed, like a ballet of fireworks. The whole thing went for about half an hour and it was amazing.
Here is about 20 seconds on the fireworks that I filmed, enjoy:
Not sure what to say about this except that I love this song!!! And so does France! (sorry Jess, I know you already blogged this but I just love it too much not to blog it too.)
The city was so quiet last night. I don't know if I have ever known it so quiet. It's like the whole country is in mourning. It's been so alive for the past few weeks and in a moment it was over. Zidane is a hero here. One of the common chants yelled by the crowd here is "Zizou pour Président". He can do no wrong and everyone believes he must have been severely provoked to react the way he did. I just can’t believe the World Cup is over. I can't remember what life was like without it.
Definition: A bonjourer is a man who (if you're lucky) says “bonjour” to you as you pass him on the street/metro, or (if you're unlucky) says “bonjour” and they continues to harass you as the try your very best to ignore them. Bonjourers are generally harmless but can be very annoying and sometimes very sleazy. Our standard response is to ignore them, which sometimes works but generally isn't very affective and sometimes even garners the respond “Quand je dis bonjour, tu dois dire bonjour!!” (when I say hello, you must say hello!!!) in a very angry tone. Bonjourers usually follow the “bonjour” with something like “vous été très belle” (you are very beautiful), "vous été très gentille" (you are very nice). I know this sounds all well and good now but think of it more as the "Hello Beautiful" that you get from the weird, creepy, drunk guy in the dark corner of the bar at home. Some of them aren't creepy at all and are just plain hilarious. Jess and I were once bonjoured by a guy at La Chapelle metro station who asked us "Quel est ton nom?" (What is your name?) to which Jess replied "J'ai pas un nom, mes parents sont fous" (I don't have a name, my parents are crazy). However, sometimes they are really really creepy like the guy that followed Alexis (Canadian Alexis, not Lek) and I as we transferred between metro lines and then when we changed carriages too.
Bonjourers are everywhere in Paris and always seem to find you when you least expect them, and even more when you're really not in the mood to be bonjoured. They'll never strike if you have a guy with you, especially if he's Polish (miss you Szymona!!!), but being with another girl just ensures that they come in pairs (or will offer to call their friend if they're alone).
I even have a friend who, while catching the night bus, told a bonjourer that she only spoke Portuguese, after he tried to talk to her in French and English. She thought she had found the perfect excuse when he walked away...but he only returned a minute later with a guy who spoke Portuguese to translate for him (seriously!!). There is no stopping these guys!!!! I'm glad we can laugh about it.
After France beat Portugal last night to make the final of the World Cup everyone headed to the Champs Elysées to celebrate. There were people all the way from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. The atmosphere was aaamazing!!! Even more aaamazing than Saturday. There were flares and fireworks going off everywhere and everyone was chanting. I can't wait until Sunday night, I can't even imagine what it will be like if they win. After the final in the 1998 World Cup there were over a million people on the Champs Elysées. I really really hope they win on Sunday!!!
This is a video I recorded of the reaction of the crowd in the stadium, Stade Charlety, after France scored it's first goal against Spain on 27 June 2006 in the World Cup. These guys next to us were awesome, and so passionate about football, I love their reaction. I showed them the video afterwards and they asked for (and took) a copy for themselves.
Is everyone amazed that France beat Spain and then Brazil?? The French definitely are!!! We (some other trainees and Juliet and I) made an effort to go watch France v Spain surrounded by an many French people as possible so soak up the atmosphere while it lasted because we were fairly certain that it would be there last game. We went to a big outdoor stadium in the South of Paris where it is broadcast on a big screen. The entire place was packed, both the field and pretty much all the stands too. I don't think I actually saw any of the French goals because every time they scored (or looked like they were about to) everyone jumped to their feet and started yelling and screaming and jumping around. People were letting off flares all around the place. The feeling inside the stadium was amazing, and afterwards on the streets it was just as nuts. As we were walking back to the metro the guy next to us said that it was the same ambiance as the World Cup in 1998.
On Saturday night after France beat Brazil we jumped straight on the metro and followed the crowd to the Champs Elyseés. It was, as Petra put it, AAAMAZING!!! There were people as far as the eye could see, all the way for the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde. Everyone was chanting and letting off flares (they love those flares, apparently it’s a European football thing) and gathering around. To tell the truth I wasn’t really sure exactly what they were doing and I don’t think they knew either. We joked that no one knew what to do because the French are so used to losing they don’t know how to celebrate a win. I really hope they win now, I can’t even imagine what it would be like.
I'm just so glad I still have a team to support. ALLEZ LES BLEUS!!!!
Ok, so this photo might just look like a whole lot of bikes speeding by but they aren't just any bikes, it's the Tour de France. Last Sunday we braved the heat and the crowds to watch the riders go up and down and Champs Elysees for the final part of the final stage. I never really been that interested in the Tour de France but it was pretty cool. I can't believe how many really really dedicated fans there are. We met a group of people that had come all the way from Townsville (yes, that Townsville, in Queensland, Australia) just to see the Tour. 
