Bonjour from a TGV train 🚅 near the Franco-Swiss border! Catching up with an account of my last day and night of Paris 2024 as I head towards the next phase of this adventure, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Two big events were on tap for Saturday, my final day of events at Paris 2024: the US women’s team vs Japan in a football quarterfinal and Beach Volleyball in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. After some needed laundry in the morning, I walked down to the Tuileries Gardens to catch a glimpse of the Olympic Cauldron.

Jumping on a RER train, I headed a few stops toward Bolougne and Paris St. Germain’s Parc des Princes football stadium. The sense of anticipation was palpable in the crowd making its way to the stadium through the local streets.

Unlike the men’s competition, the womens’ teams are stocked full of the best players, making for a mini-world cup tournament.

The game was a defensive battle, and the crowd entertained itself by doing the wave a number of times. The atmosphere could have been a bit better – I’d say the crowd was 25% USA, 25% Japan and 50% Parisians there to do the wave and singalongs. There was a lot of chatter during the game, not unlike an American baseball game.

In any case, the game was 0-0 in extra-time when the USA’s Trinity Rodman scored a gem of a goal in the goal in front of my seat. For the first time during these Olympics I leaped out of my seat and yelled. One of the most exciting moments I’ve had at a live football game (and I’ve been to a few).

After a stop back at the hotel, I headed out for my last event, Beach Volleyball at the foot of the Eiffel Tower in the Champ de Mars park. This is one of the signature venues of Paris 2024 and the views did not disappoint.

Unfortunately it did begin to pour just as the competition was starting, so I sat out the first match under the stands to keep dry. After a break in the rain, I took my seat to watch a women’s match between Canada and Czechia. Beach Volleyball is a lot of fun, although the constant music and singing can be a little distracting. I don’t know how the competitors are able to focus while the crowd is more interested in singing Sweet Caroline. Oh well, it’s a party 😁

To end the night and the trip, I took the elevator up to the promenade of the Eiffel Tower for a view of Paris at night. Seeing the Trocadero where all the broadcasts are coming from, the beach volleyball venue all lit up at night and the rest of the City of Lights was a great way to end the Olympic portion of my trip.

Paris did an AMAZING job of hosting these games. Los Angeles will have a lot to live up to in four years to match this experience. I’m not planning on attending that one (I can’t imagine what transport from venue to venue is going to be like). But I loved my first Olympic experience and hope to have another one someday. The journey continues!