Field Fridays – Reims and Nice
2019 Women’s World Cup will be held in 9 cities across the beautiful country of France and today we are going to grab some bubbly and then head to the beach in the south, Reims and Nice (probably the two hardest names to pronounce in English).
Reims
Not to be confused with Rennes. The name of this town is anything but easy to pronounce if you’re not French. A helpful hint is to pronounce it like R-O-N-C-E. Reims is synonymous with Champagne. Thus, if you’re in town for a game, why not celebrate a victory or wallow in defeat with a nice glass of local bubbly? And while Cathedrals are nothing new to see in France, Reims’ cathedral is a little special. It is the place were almost all French Kings were crowned for over 900 years. Pop over next door and see what use to be the treasury and where the post party festivities took place. Ironic that the home of champagne is where the king’s partied right? Now a days there are no more coronations, but the royal houses of champagne have taken residence in the city and are definitely worth a trip. But with Mumm, Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin, Tattinger and Ruinart just to name a few, the problem won’t be whether to go, but rather which. Full list here.
But if history isn’t your thing and you’re underage I’m not sure Reims is where you want to be. But if you will be in town for a football match why not head over to the Reims – Champagne Automobile Museum, I’m pretty sure the name tells you what to do there. You can ooh and ahh over 230 cars from 1908 to present day.
Pink Dessert
If you don’t want to be sipping champagne on an empty stomach than the local accompaniment would be a good idea to try, biscuits roses (pink biscuits). Like an Italian biscotti, they are twice baked pink biscuits and absolutely divine. Cheers!
Nice
Now that we have eaten pink biscuits and washed it down with the world’s best bubbly, let’s head to the land of sea and sand, Nice. Besides the obvious laying in the sand and indulging in the suns electrifying rays, there must be something more. Or why has Nice been the hot spot of Europe’s elite for centuries? The 7km stretch known as The Promenade des Anglais (English Promenade) is a definite must to do in the city. If you’re tired from all your travels just start at the Vieux Nice (old town) and stroll along until you run into the Negresco hotel, passing the Jardin Albert 1er and the Palais de la Méditerranée. Starting at the old town you can get lost in the alley ways or pop into the Cours Seleya where you will find a market, flower market or flea market every morning depending on the day.
After your long walk and adventure in the old town there are many “cuisine Niçoise” delicacies that will calm your grumbling tummy. Beside a Salade Niçoise that you might already be familiar with, there are many other culinary delights to be had in Nice. Try Socca, a type of chickpea flatbread, or a Pissaladière, a kind of pie made of onions and anchovies.
Rosé All Day
It would be a crime to come to France and especially Nice and not have a glass of chilled rosé. The perfect complement to any “cuisine Niçoise.” If you didn’t get enough champers in Reims the city is also filled with plenty of Champagne bars too.
Group Matches
Stade Auguste – Delaune
Club: Stade Reims
Capacity: 21,029
Opened: 1935, renovated; 1955, 2004 – 2008
Fun Fact: It’s the birthplace of the phrase “Champagne Football.” In honor of the Stade de Reims team who won three French titles in the 1950s.
Norway vs. Niger
8 June
21:00
USA vs. Thailand
11 June
21:00
Jamaica vs. Italy
14 June
18:00
Korea vs. Norway
17 June
21:00
Netherlands vs. Canada
20 June
18:00
Stade de Nice
Club: OGC Nice
Capacity: 35,100
Opened: 2013
Fun Fact: Sitting in the stands you can look up a bathe in the beauty of the French Alps.
England vs Scotland
9 June
18:00
France vs Norway
12 June
21:00
Sweden vs Thailand
16 June
18:00
Japan vs. England
19 June
21:00
Round of 16
22 June
18:30
Third place play-off
6 July
17:00