The local rugby team, ASM (
Association Sportive Michelin), played in the French National Championship Game Saturday night. This was the 10th time the team has made it to the finals, and the 3rd year in a row. The city set up a huge screen in Place de Jaude, as well a stage for a band to entertain the crowds all afternoon. Rain threatened all day, but luckily it held off for the massive crowds gathered in Jaude. Matthew and I put together blue and yellow outfits, packed our small Clemson cooler, and starting walking to Jaude about 7pm. If I closed my eyes, to shut out all of the blue and yellow, I could almost imagine we were walking to a Clemson tailgate, about to meet up at Clint's tailgate spot, with a pig smoking on the grill. However, we were not in Clemson, we were in France, but we still were enjoying all of the excitement. Stores all over town had been decorated all week with blue and yellow balloons, banners, and signs in the windows. Even the plethera of lingerie stores and fancy boutique stores got into the spirit of things, with blue and yellow negligees displayed on the mannequins. As we walked, there were lots of decorated cars and mopeds, and just as many decorated people. When we got to Place de Jaude, we were greeted by a mob of blue and yellow. There was a "marching" band playing on the stage, and way too many people had these little plastic horns that even a child could blow and make it sound as loud as a car horn! Here is a link to a video on YouTub:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb4dJiUYMVYIn the middle of all of the chaos and drunkeness, there was this little French man, dressed to the nines, sitting and looking like he was at the Kentucky Derby, not a gigantic, drunk, rugby party! I thought he was so cute!
Miracle of Miracles, we ran into the Gray family, and set out to find a place to watch the game. After about 10 minutes of looking at the back of 5000 people's heads, we decided to walk to another family's house to watch the game. Unfortunately, for the 3rd year in a row, ASM lost. It was still great to see the city come together, unified by a sport's team. It reminded me so much of living in Clemson.
Miracle of Miracles, we ran into the Gray family, and set out to find a place to watch the game. After about 10 minutes of looking at the back of 5000 people's heads, we decided to walk to another family's house to watch the game. Unfortunately, for the 3rd year in a row, ASM lost. It was still great to see the city come together, unified by a sport's team. It reminded me so much of living in Clemson. 
1 comment:
Great pictures! It felt like I was there in person. The picture of the old man is hilarious!
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