Aljice en France 2016: Day 16 Pottering around in Lyon

Pottering around Lyon

Tours like this can take it out of you with their endless travel. So it's good when you have days where there's really nothing to do apart from slob about.

Train tickets to Marseille

The only task that was quite important for me was to buy a train ticket to go back to Marseille for the exciting top of the group clash between Iceland and Hungary. I did this, but it was awkward. Incredibly, between France's No 2 and No 3 cities, the last train to run on a Saturday night leaves St Charles station at 8:14 pm. This means I will probably have to leave the game a bit early in order to catch the train back and it also means, shamefully, I'll miss the first half of the Austria v Portugal game, the last in round 2. I am always keen to watch as many of the games as possible in rounds one and two because the round three games for each group are played simultaneously and so six games will be missed whatever happens.

Gerry was keen to go south and get a bit of sunshine, so I bought tickets for him and Simon as well. After doing this I met up with them at a rendez-vous close the fan park at La Place de Bellacour where I discovered Simon wasn't really keen on a two hour train journey to see a match he didn't want to see and have to leave "after half time".

Turns out that with a bit of care I think I'll be able to watch almost the whole match. The metro line 2 runs from the ground to the station and assuming it's twenty minutes...

Metro line 2 should get me back to the station quickly

Gerry and Simon are coming for the ride but are probably not going to the game even though the 80,000 seater Velodrome will probably have plenty empty seats. So, that's the plan for tomorrow sorted out. Watch this space to see if I make it back!

Pottering

The major task done it was just a question of finding three bars that were showing the games today and having something nice to eat.

Outside our hotel

A bit of Lyonais SightSeeing

Italy 1 Sweden 0

First up was Italy v Sweden. Italy had already won their first big match against Belgium 2-0 and so are looking good to qualify already. Sweden had scraped a draw with Ireland so Italy were the big favourites to win. With their formidable talisman, Zlatan Ibrahimovic terrorising the normally calm Italian defence, it looked like Sweden could be capable of pulling off a shock for much of the game but gradually Italy came into it more and more. Finally, their Brazilian sounding striker, Eden, held off three Swedish defenders before unleashing a brilliant winner to seal it. Italy looking very good, then.

Italy have qualification in the bag

Croatia 2 Czech Republic 2

Next, we decided to explore the fan park for the Croatia v Czech Republic game. It was far from full, which meant that I could have a lie down and have another power nap as Croatia seemed to dominate the game as they went into a 2-0 lead.

Probably the best Fan Park I've been to

Simon sustained a life-threatening injury playing full-sized table football - a game where the teams have to hold on to bars, like the real miniature table version and just kick the ball if it comes anywhere near you. Apparently the rubber like ball was booted up into his face and into his eye. The medical team at the fan zone were dedicated to getting him match fit for a full hour.

Battle weary Simon

Bravely, Haveland rejoined the team on our way to another bar where a bunch of Ulster boys were showing the locals how to sup ale and chant pointless "songs" in a alarmingly loud way. As all this was going on there was drama in St Ettienne as the Czech Republic fought their way back into the game, as Croatian fans fought with each other and threw flares onto the pitch. The game ended 2-2, the highest scoring game so far.

Ulster boys and locals at Dan's Pub

Spain 3 Turkey 0

Our final destination was the old town and its beautiful narrow streets. We found a restaurant where we were served by Alvera, a girl from Sydney, who had a mother who was French (or it might have been her father). The dish was the best I've had in months - pork in a deliciously mild mustard sauce. The Spain v Turkey had started by now and it soon became apparent that there would be no shocks here either. Spain scored three in the end. And, after a friendly chat with some Welsh lads from Cardiff on a stag do it was another Uber success to get us back here and off to bed.