Back in Canada

After having dealt with the evil and mean incarnate that is the Customs office after having forgotten to pick up my second bag. (I got to evil eye from this one woman; the AF lady who got my bag was so, so nice though) I am back.

I had the best last two days of my trip ever though, when I went to the Olympique Lyonnais café and watched their final game of the season there--alone, duh-- against Nantes which they won 3-1. Greatest experience ever, though the next bit beats it by a 1000 miles.

There were celebrations held in Place des Terraux, a square located in front of City Hall beside the Fine Arts museum. Realizing I couldn't stay for long, I walked to the other side of City Hall to catch the metro back (later learning that metro service was extended until 1:30am) and noticed the back side was barricaded and remembered that the players were coming with the Ligue 1 trophy they'd won for the 6th time in a row in a while. So we waited in the rain for 2hrs (I had a lovely chat with an elderly lady) and after listening to brazillian music, a brass quartet play a marching version of Samba (by Bond) and city officials walk into the building, we saw the players' bus slowly pull in.

Then, we could see the trophy (my lord is it big) and Gerard Houllier the coach, who announced his retirement the day before the match, with it. Then one by one, the players got off and it was something. Never seen professional athletes that close before from a sport I've played for 10 years. Ever. I saw Cris, Malouda (who got a loud cheer for his two goals--he like poked his head out curiously and then waved), Juninho (!), Govou, Diarra, Squillaci, Wiltord, Abidal (!!), Toulalan, Caçapa who was retiring had helped the club win the 6 titles, Fred (I think), a bunch of other players and finally Coupet whom everyone cheered for big time.

The match was partly delayed because some fans had lit flares (which are, btw, banned I might add) and the wind was going down towards the field so the whole field was engulfed in smoke for a bit. They resumed the match and at the end during the presentation of the trophy, fans ran onto the field and the stage where the players were, the fans were being held back by a human wall about 6-7ft away. It was such an experience to actually see the players get off the bus and such. I was so happy that I cried on my way back to the residence.

After all that I had to miss the players going ontop of the balcony on the front of the City Hall with the trophy and catch the metro home as I had to transfer lines.

So now I'm back, jetlagged and got a lovely swift hit in the gut by life reminding that now I am no longer on vacation and must deal with everything that I had put (on purpose, duh) on the backburner.

In other news, I may unwillingly be forced back to Calgary very soon as many people who want my monnies and want to burden me with complicated information to help dad request my presence and note that it is imperative I be there. However, due to volunteering commitments at the World Cup in the host city I chose (Ottawa) I can't be there long....actually, I might only be there for less than a week as I believe I have mandatory training from FIFA (silly FIFA...) on the 17th...oh well, if I'm going, I guess it'll have to be soon then.