Day 1, as the boy's look for their hotel they accidentally stumble upon a bar with a Happy Hour!  How happy did they get?  At 6:20 as the bar man announced that the latest round of drinks would be at full price, the boys cried foul and demanded cheap booze as advertised in the window until 7:00, the bar man relented.   On the way out it was observed that the Happy Hour was from 16:00 - 18:00.   Well the last hour was a happy one!

Time to hit the town, the lads visit a range of bars.  From the dreaded bar selling the cheap and appropriately named Ici Blonde beer to the more cosmopolitan establishments (€8.75 a pint!).  It's amazing who tried to get in on the craic with the lads, but Gerry's not budging!

After bar hopping we crash a restaurant about to close, they  agree, after much banter, to sell us drinks!  The even closed the curtains and doors as we had peanuts and beer and they cleaned up around us!! 

Not too late a night back in bed by 4:00!

 

Day 2: Match day and time for some sightseeing. 

The Arc de Triomphe, followed by a leisurely walk down the Champs-Elysees.  And then the heavens open, the boys get soaked and take refuge in a Virgin Megastore.   Then back to the hotel, dress, food and drink and time to find an Irish bar to set the mood.  A long walk down Boulevard Haussmann in search of the pub Gerry is sure he saw as we hurtled through the empty streets the previous night/morning in a Taxi!

Who would ever doubt Gerry, O'Sullivan's is exactly where it should be.   As is traditional the bar is packed to the rafters as everyone watches the England game. The lads revert to the local off-licence for cheaper beer! It is reminiscent of Ibaraki where the shop owner once again is contemplating a move to the Bahamas from the profit on the beer sold to the Irish!

 

 

 

The lads regroup outside the stadium.

 

Feeling the atmosphere, the lads are on the second level, not a bad seat in the house.

 

About as colourful as it got for the French. 

Whatever happened to "Scaoil amach an Bobailín!"?

After the game, "We beat the French Nil-All", and back to Paris.   School boy error as we stop at a bar in St Germain and blindly order drink, € 9.50 a pint!  But we balance that by going down the road for a kebab and chips for €4.00 and having it with our pint.  Funny how no-one stayed for more than one pint!

Eventually arrive at the Scottish bar, get a table in the corner and proceed to discuss the cultural highlights of the trip and the possibility of visiting the Opera and the Ballet before leaving Paris!

The lads enjoy their last pint before discovering that the Paris Taxi system needs to be deregulated, after an hour and a half walk home we had seen most of the sights of Paris by foot!

"We beat the French Nil-All  "