Day 36 - Game Day in Paris: PSG v. Sochaux

Since this is technically a soccer excursion and I've extended my stay, I figured it’d be appropriate to attend another soccer match.  Fortunately the schedule was in my favor and Paris-Saint Germain (PSG) was playing at home on Saturday night in a Ligue 1 match against Sochaux.  I was able to call on Yann, PSG's press officer who didn't come through for the Bastia match, but he had no problem with tickets for this home showdown. 

It's no secret the French are passionate people.  Passionate about their food, culture, and love, but when it comes to sports it just seems like their passion comes off as rowdy and disgruntled.  Nothing in particular happened at the game, but I noticed it in Bastia with fans throwing things at players while they were taking corner kicks and then again in Paris with fans yelling, whistling and hollering when opposing players get injured or substitute out.  I guess this makes them no different than New York or Philadelphia fans.

My breakfast consisted of some fruit from a local vendor and a coffee...keeping it healthy for a change.

Kickoff was at 5:30 so I headed to the stadium around 4:30. I wouldn't of had a problem scalping a ticket to this match. The sketchy ticket scalper guys I was looking for in Bastia were apparently all here in Paris. I felt like I was at the Coliseum...home sweet home.

 

PSG flags were put on everyone's seats.

 

By kickoff it was a packed house. Sochaux isn't a big rival or even a historically strong team, but PSG, with its new players, is a hot ticket in town. 

PSG is second in the league and Sochaux is 17th (out of 20).

 

 

It didn't take long for PSG to score...at 10 minutes they went up 1-0 and the flags were waiving.

PSG's park, Parc des Princes holds about 48k.

 

Only in France would they serve a hot dog in a baguette.

Goal #2 also came in the first half in the 35th minute...PSG 2, Sochaux 0 at halftime.

 

Final score PSG 2, Sochaux 0. PSG's next league match is against huge rival and first place team Marseille. The fans were already yelling and screaming profanities about Marseille so that should be a rowdy match.

 

 

Another fun European soccer experience, 6 for 6!

 

 

The game ended around 8pm, perfect time for dinner.  There's a place across from my hotel called the Le Petit Tour (The Small Tower) that has been recommended by several people so that's where I headed.  Trip Advisor, which is where I get a lot of recommendations, has it as #215 out of 8,000+ restaurants in Paris.  It a very old restaurant  dating back to before WWII.  The waitress said that during the war when the Germans occupied Paris they would come into this restaurant and sit exactly where I was sitting to get drinks.

Bartop for one please! This was a very familiar scene throughout the trip.

 

Raviloi in a cream sauce and topped with prosciutto. This was my appetizer, but I could have thrown back a whole bowl of this. It was amazing; creamy, but not too heavy. The salty proscuitto with the cream sauce...incroyable.

Scallops. For some reason I've been craving scallops for a week now, but have had trouble finding them. When the waitress was translating the menu for me and mentioned scallops my eyes lit up. They were covered in a light oil and basil sauce and in the middle was a red marinara-type sauce that was delicious. My craving was very much satisfied.

Side of green beaans...again, trying to keep it healthy.

 

It was a full moon in Paris.

Looking up and seeing the Eiffel Tower is still not getting old.

Another fun day in Paris and a successful soccer endeavor as well.   Sunday is my last full day (I leave Monday afternoon) and I don't have much planned.  I'll probably take advantage of the sunshine and do as the Parisians do and enjoy another open air cafe.