All Parisians love Roland Garros.
Not the man – the tennis tournament. Known overseas as the French Open. Roland Garros is all good news for Parisians.
Firstly, it means spring has arrived. Roland Garros is the official kick-off of the best months of the year. The French open is allegedly a tennis tournament. Truth be told, it is Paris’ prime solarium. Parisians go to Roland Garros first and foremost to sunbathe.
Besides its tanning function, Roland Garros is one of the greatest social events in Paris. The beauty of Roland Garros lies in the fact that it is both completely exclusive and completely open. Whether one partook in the exclusive or in the generic experience, he can still brag with his friends: J’étais à Roland Garros hier. The evocation of Roland Garros comes with a beautiful touch of glamour and Parisian elegance. VIPs and corporate guests are allowed inside Le Village. The plebe will stick to Les Allées. Corporate snobs only spend 2 or 3 hours à Roland. A sunny and extended lunch break.
Once seated in Le Central, Parisians’ attention is hardly focused on tennis. They sure need to keep track of the score for future reference, but the real quest is to spot celebrities. Parisians find quite sweet the feeling of casually sharing hobbies and experiences with celebrities.
One of the things Parisians love about Roland Garros is that it’s situated on the outskirts of Paris in he beautiful Bois de Boulogne. Meaning, as opposed to many other sporting events, it does not screw up their lives by worsening traffic. There is really nothing bad about Roland Garros.
Late May, Paris is split into two categories of people. People who have tickets for la finale, and others. The first type of people is considered salauds by the second kind. The ticket possessors secretly agree and giggle in petto: they made it in life.
When going to Roland Garros, it is acceptable for Parisians to buy a souvenir. T-Shirts or towels are the most frequent choice. Tennis balls are also ok. While buying a branded souvenir from any other place they visit would be considered outrageously beauf, it is absolutely ok with Roland Garros gear. So is buying ice cream to enjoy while watching the games. Even for Parisian women…
A day out at Roland Garros really is pure indulgence.
Useful tip: Bring sunscreen.
Sound like a Parisian: « Tu vas à Roland Garros ? Oooh, trop d’la chance »
![[del.icio.us]](http://images.del.icio.us/static/img/delicious.small.gif){kind=small}
Tags: fame · roland garros · sports · tennis8 Comments
8 responses so far ↓
When I saw your title, I thought we were in May! Of course, even if I’m not a real Parisian, I loooooooove Roland Garros. But, I juste went once. Who knows, I may go back in 2009.
Anne… A few more months to wait!! Enjoy The Holidays!
Olivier, you just keep outdoing yourself in nailing all the parisianisms. Don’t ever stop! These are wonderful.
It took me a year of living in Paris before I realized that Le Roland Garros and the French Open were actually the same event… so American of me.
Polly… you are far too kind! I was just thinking this post hadn’t been very popular. Maybe too consensual.
One year for Americans to understand something is better than eight, so you’re in good shape, don’t worry!
And, for the records, and for I have the terrible habit of always correcting people’s French (I love to be corrected in English), it is Roland Garros - not Le Roland Garros!
Have a beautiful Holiday Season Polly!!
C’est vrai, Olivier! I live a ten-minute walk away from Roland Garros and see it every year. It is exactly as you describe.
Paris Parfait… Merci. Can’t wait for May!!
after having been to the masters in Rome this year, I really want to travel to Paris for Roland Garros.
hopefully next year!
Sport Review… Yup, that gives you either two days or one year!! Defintely worth coming to Paris late May, glorious time of year this is.