Panthers' European TourAug. 29, 2003
Paris is far too big of a city to see in just a few days, but suffice it to say the Panthers have been busy trying to see as much as possible in their brief time in one of the world's largest and most dynamic cities. First a few more words on the game Tuesday and a familiar face on the Levallois team. Rylan Hainje of Butler is currently playing for that team and he scored eight points against the Panthers on Tuesday night. Before the game he caught up with UWM head coach Bruce Pearl and some of the Panthers player. He has been battling a knee injury and, after sitting out practices prior to the game with UWM, is sidelined again for at least a week after his knee flared up again. Following the game Tuesday night, the Panthers got a first-hand experience of the traffic in Paris, as rush hour turned a ride that was no more than 15 miles into a one-hour adventure. After arriving at the hotel, the Sofitel Forum Rive Gauche, the Panthers also had their eyes opened to another European custom - small hotel rooms. After being treated to more spacious accommodations in their first two stops on the tour, the team found the rooms barely big enough for their bags. But who spends time in a hotel room in Paris? So, after a quick turnaround it was on to dinner and then to the Paris Metro to see the Eiffel Tower. Regulars suggest the best time to see the Eiffel Tower is at night and the team would receive that unique opportunity following an Italian meal just down the road from the hotel. The ride on the metro was a relatively short one and for just 1,30 euro one-way, it's an efficient and economical way of moving around the crowded city. The view approaching the lit up tower is breathtaking, but the view only gets better as visitors ascend up the tower, first to a spot about halfway up before completing the journey all the way to the top. Because Paris, especially the city center, is not filled with skyscrapers, the view from the Eiffel Tower well off into the countryside is uninterrupted. Some of the players lingered longer than other up above and everyone took plenty of pictures with the city of Paris in the background. With a full day of traveling, a game and a few hours as a tourist, it was back to the hotel to rest up for another full day of sightseeing on Wednesday. And a full day it was. After breakfast, the team again boarded the Metro for the ride to the Musee Du Louvre, housing one of the world's most foremost art collections. Among the rare works in house are the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. But, while you cannot possibly see everything in the Louvre in one day, the team tried to squeeze in as much as they could in the few hours they would be spending at the museum. After proceeding as a team to fight the crowd to see the Mona Lisa, the group split up and had nearly two hours to wonder the enormous museum. From the Louvre, it was on to the streets of Paris and some of the street vendors selling souvenirs along the Seine River. Many of the players who had put off their souvenir shopping until arriving in Paris found a variety of postcards and pictures, statues and even some inexpensive watercolor paintings and other works of art. The touring was far from done, though, as the next stop on the agenda was the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. Constructed between 1163 and 1365, then renovated in the 19th Century, Notre Dame represents the height of gothic architecture. This was also a point for lunch, so the team scattered about the streets and sidewalk cafes in view of the cathedral and had the choice to enjoy local treats like croquettes and baguettes, sausages and fries or even pizza in view of one of the world's most famous cathedrals. From there it was back onto the metro and off to the Champs-Elysees for some shopping, sightseeing and people-watching. The French consider the Champs to be the world's most beautiful street, but it is hard to say if they are taking about the view of the Arc de Triomphe at one end of the Champs, the expensive clothing in the windows or the people wandering the street looking for or already wearing the latest fashion. While some of the stores, including some major perfume shops, have storefronts on the Champs, many of the other stores are organized in galleries off of the Champs. With all of the big-name designers represented, it's not easy to find clothes that fit into the budget of a college student. But, with some of the perfume shops offering small bottles of the finest scents and other bath and body related products, the Champs did provide an opportunity for some to bring home souvenirs from this once-in-a-lifetime location. Before getting back on the metro to head to the hotel, the team wandered down to the Arc de Triomphe for a team photo. The monument, which you can also climb to get a better view of the Champs, was commissioned by Napolean and is meant to celebrate triumph. A weary group now boarded the metro in the midst of rush-hour for the ride back to the hotel and some rest. The night was quiet for many of the players, worn out from another long day and while resting up for another day of touring and another game Thursday night. Some of the players did venture out into the immediate neighborhood around the hotel, befriending a local shopkeeper who now finds the Panther players to be regulars stopping in to buy snacks, drinks and fruit. Thursday in Paris, the team again boarded the metro to venture to Sacre Coure and Montmarte for another view above Paris. There is plenty of climbing to be done in Europe and this time it took about 200 steps for the team to get a beautiful view of the city. From there, it was off to the area's quaint marketplaces for more souvenir shopping and to enjoy the street musicians. The day, which would break off about 2:30 p.m. so the team could return to the hotel to eat a pregame meal and rest up for the game, also included a walk down to the Moulin Rouge area, a famous strip filled mainly with sex shops. While the team was there early in the day and the atmosphere was mostly quiet and filled with galkers and those curious about what the area was all about, it was clear the neighborhood would take on a different face once the sun goes down. The Moulin Rouge itself, easily noticed thanks to the bright-red neon sign out front, offers shows at 7, 9 and 11 p.m., running in cost from 30 to 90 euro per person. Once again, the ride to the game Thursday became an adventure. Rueil is a suburb of Paris and, with an 8 p.m. game, the team allowed plenty of time to get to the gym due to rush hour traffic. Traffic was heavy, but the bus pulled up two blocks from the gym a full 90 minutes before the game, seemingly giving the Panthers plenty of time to relax and get ready for the contest. But, upon completing the walk and arriving at the gym, the team quickly learned a sewer had backed up in the gym and, with water everywhere and a smell that was unbearable, no basketball would be played in that gym tonight. So, it was off to another gym to play the contest. This gym, also in Rueil, was located on the campus of a school. With more narrow streets and alleys, Francois, the Belgian bus driver with the Panthers throughout the trip, again showed off his skills in driving. He made two turns that nearly everyone on the bus rated as impossible before he started to make them and drew applause as he navigated the bus within one block of the gym. The game was another competitive one for the Panthers, who forced the game into overtime before falling. The club treated the Panthers to a meal before everyone went back to the hotel to pack up for the trip home.
Friday, the team departs from Paris' Charles du Galle airport at roughly 2:30
p.m., arriving back in the states at just after 5 p.m. EDT at Detroit's Metro
Airport. The team will then hop another flight to Chicago and should be back
on the UWM campus by around 9:30 p.m. CDT Friday. Of course, their body clocks
will say 4:30 a.m., but the players all have three full days to rest up before
starting school on Tuesday.
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