the FanZone, Baby

Woohoo, the FanZone in the Plainpalais in downtown Geneva. Big stuff here folks. Actually, it was quite fun. They have a section all blocked off, you have to enter through a gate with security who check your bags and make you throw out any food or drink. There was a stage with lots of lights, a HUGE screen for watching the games, and vendors with good food at exorbitant prices for their captive hungry and thirsty audience. Seriously, it was actually cheaper to buy food and drinks (including Jungle juice) at the fete de la musique! Crazy. But those guys new what they were doing. Once you entered the FanZone you didn't want to leave until the match was over. They got you good with their beer prices and you know EVERYONE was gulping that down on a hot day while watching a football match (that's soccer for all you Americans - see I am becoming more European).

Here's a picture of the bizarre Swiss mascot. I'm not really sure what it's supposed to be. sorry, I didn't get a picture from the front. The face is painted white, there's that crazy corkscrew black hat, and the donut around the waste. If anyone has any idea what this Swiss mascot is supposed to be, I'd love to know! Oh, and you gotta love the black and white diamond tights. Where can I get me some o' those?

There's the DH and our friends all sporting orange in support of Holland. It was cool to be watching the match surrounded by a sea of Orange and Red (the Russians) shouting, cheering, and cursing passionate fans. It was an exciting match too. The Dutch were out played, but they hung in there. Their defense was phenomenal. Especially Van der Sar, their goalie - can you say amazing? He's a 6'5" tall, lanky package of awesomeness. The Russians ended up winning in overtime, but Van der Sar did all he could to stop them...which, is more than I can say for the Dutch defense. Look, I like Holland, I was rooting for them. But, they did seem to run out of steam at the end. I don't know if it was because they were just exhausted from playing 90 minutes plus 30 minutes of over time or if they just gave up because the Russians were relentless.
There's me in my lovely orange straw hat. Provided for me by Martjne (I think that's how you spell it). He had it on hand in case I didn't have an orange shirt -which I didn't. He's Dutch and wanted to make sure we were all visibly supporting his team. Janice, his wife, is American. She's from North Dakota, I believe, and probably wouldn't thank me if she knew I'd posted this picture on the internet. hmmm....let's hope she never stumbles across this! Well, folks. I'm sure you've had a blast (yeah right) reading about the FanZone but I spent a long day scrubbing the house and gardening in the hot sun so I'm tired and ready to go chill out before I hit the sack.
later gator.

allez l'Egypte, allez l'Egypte!

"Allez l'Egypte, allez l'Egypte!" (go Egypt, go Egypt!") a little tow headed boy shouted with delight on the bus this afternoon. His father asked him why he was saying this and in his little five year old French voice he replied he was cheering them on in the Euro cup (which is currently taking place here in Switzerland and Austria). "But Egypt is not in the Euro Cup," his father said. "Oh yes, I saw it on TV," was the stubborn little reply. "Egypt is not in Europe, " the patient father explained. The little boy just shook his curly, golden locks and stubbornly refused to accept that Egypt was not a European country and thus not playing in the 2008 Euro Cup. I found it pretty amusing.

The city of Geneva is besieged with soccer (called football here) fans. this afternoon as I rode the bus across town to work I watched packs of fans roaming the streets in their red jerseys, crazy hats, others had Portuguese flags draped around shoulders, all reveling in the glory of the day and the hopes of a victory. Today's games are Portugal versus the Czech Republic and Switzerland versus Turkey. Portugal and the Czech Republic are playing in the Stade de Geneve (which is, of course, here in Geneva) so that explains the mobs of Portugal fans flooding the streets today. In fact, one parent was late picking up her daughter because traffic was stopped due to a large band of Portugal fans deciding to parade down the middle of the street! No, not an actual organized parade, merely a huge group of fans refusing to get out of the road! Fro the first time today I actually saw police cars parked around Geneva - normally there isn't a police car in sight anywhere. At least, I never see them.

It's all quite exciting. DH and I definitely have to head down to the "FanZone" in Plainpalais some time during the Euro Cup to watch a game on the big outdoor screens and experience the general hubbub and excitement of the tournament.