The Balloon goes up

For once I may just do a brief post... yeah, whatever... 😉

Back to the North Paris Arena today for another Sitting Volleyball shift. 

We very efficiently sorted everything we needed to do, took a delivery of clean towels and made sure everything was ready for the teams on the warm up courts and on field of play.

2 matches taking place, men's group match between Germany and Iran and women's match between USA and Italy. (Winners Iran and USA respectively each in 3 sets)

We did our usual making sure the courts were topped with water and towels for the following games, set up the warm up rooms and even got to watch a bit of the matches on the TV in the athletes lounge. Oooh and the essential mascot picture. 😀

Today's lunch was cool hot food 🙄 stated as pasta bolognaise but very little sauce on it, but edible.

After shift, arranged to meet with a volunteer friend, Ruth. We had shared accommodation when we were on the Gold Coast in 2018, so was great to catch up and natter over a drink and a light bite. She has been working for the Games here for the past 2 years and her contract ends almost at the end of this month. 

After eating, I was heading to see the Olympic flame and its balloon, which rises into the sky at sunset. Tonight 8.30pm. So I headed off to meet up with Whendie and Nathalie, while Ruth had a quick stop off at the Samsung Shop on the way home.

We walked to the viewing point in the Tuileries, along with hundreds of others to watch the balloon rise. I still feel they should make people stand in height order so tall people can't obstruct views.

The balloon rose, very impressive. Its "flame" consists of LED lights and high pressure water dispensers, that simulates flames and smoke giving the very realistic flame effect.

We also saw the lights on the Eiffel Tower twinkling.

From here we headed to find "coca-cola house" near Invalides, only to discover it was only there for the Olympics. We were directed to bars along the river as an alternative, but I was starting to tire by now so decided to head back. 

My phone battery died, but luckily I had checked out the route I needed before it went. I really should have brought my power pack with me. Another thing on my list I'd forgotten. 

Maybe I'll see if I can get to the Samsung place tomorrow to see if they've anything that might help. Also a trip to the megastore to get a few bits before they run out of the good stuff.