Bastille Day Parade and Fireworks
Bonjour,
After a very late night, we waked up to hear about the horrific attack in Nice which is hundreds of miles from us on the Mediterranean Coast. Thanks to all who have checked on us. I had already written most of this post in nothing but fun; now, the sadness lingers. However, I decided to post our day in defiance of all those who would take away our right to gather in innocence to celebrate a country’s national holiday. May the victims rest in peace and may the families involved manage to find solace with time.
The French Fète of Independence is always held on July 14, Quatorze Julliet. The two events are the Bastille Day parade along Les Champs in the morning and the fireworks at dark staged from the Eiffel Tower. There is a third event which we’ve never been brave enough to attend which is the Firemen’s Ball held in the fire station near us. We understand that it is most interesting after midnight when the firemen dance supposedly in the nude…oh-là-là!
If you are in Paris on July 14 and don’t want to stand for hours on Les Champs to see the parade, you can cheat a little like we do and go to Pont d’Arcole and watch the fly-by. It’s a great vantage point. It’s the bridge with Notre Dame on one side and L’Hotel de Ville on the other. Today it was about 58 degrees on the bridge!
Another option is to watch the parade on Channel 2 on television. They do a fantastic job with their coverage. The web site stated the fly-by would be at 10:44am and it was 10:44am on the bridge when Bernie shouted, “Here they come!” Perfect execution.
We spent the afternoon on Les Champs and were surprised to find that it was a pedestrian only street for the afternoon – the first time we’ve ever seen it minus cars.
It’s a fun day and we hope you enjoy the pictures.
For our very special celebration, we had booked dinner at Ciel de Paris. It’s a restaurant in the sky atop the Montparnasse Tower which puts you up above the fireworks. It’s a fantastic view. Bernie took probably 150 photos so it was difficult to select the best. The real show is 45 minutes long, but here is our abbreviated presentation.
With a heavy heart,
L & B
July 15, 2016 @ 8:51 am
Hi Linda, you’ve written lovely words of condolences to the families of those French people who didn’t make it home last night. Of course, like you and Bernie, Neil and I feel so sad and sickened by such tragedy in our beloved France. The French people have had enough! But imagine how the Syrian people feel.
July 15, 2016 @ 9:42 am
Thank you Linda and Bernie such beautiful photos I love your blog and all your photos glad your all safe it’s so bittersweet sweet and yes we all have a heavy heart our thoughts and prayers go out to all the people effected by this horrible attack .
July 15, 2016 @ 10:20 am
Magnifique!!! Safe travels home.
July 15, 2016 @ 11:30 am
Pictures of people…wonderful. Next year….how about….Can You Pick Out the American? That’s a great view for fireworks I’ll bet..Bernie needs to head to the nearest bar in the afternoon and find out what the locals are saying about Nice.
July 15, 2016 @ 11:57 am
Glad you are safe
July 15, 2016 @ 12:00 pm
Thanks, Ric. Lunch soon!
July 15, 2016 @ 1:03 pm
Awesome photos of the fireworks. I know james would have loved that fly over!! Glad you’re safe though sad way to end your trip. Praying for safe travels as you return 🙏
July 15, 2016 @ 1:31 pm
Great job L&B!. Art, history, architecture, public pissoir’s, giant macaroons — you touched a lot of bases. Your energy and enthusiasm made it all good fun.
Thank you.
July 15, 2016 @ 1:56 pm
Beautiful pictures, taken at such a grand time amidst sadness and grief for us all. Thanks for sharing the images along with your comments.
July 15, 2016 @ 1:59 pm
HI: I have been thinking about you since I heard the news last night. I was hoping you were safe in Paris and glad to know that you were.
Prayers for Nice and all of France. So horrific!
July 15, 2016 @ 2:16 pm
Stunning photos of the fireworks!
July 15, 2016 @ 3:21 pm
Lovely day report. Great pictures. So glad you are safe.
July 15, 2016 @ 10:12 pm
My heart breaks for all those in France effected by the latest act of violence, as well as the world at large. This is a very troubling time that seems to be dominated by hate, intolerance and violence everywhere you look, including our own country.
Thank you for sharing the photos of France’s celebration of its independence.
July 15, 2016 @ 10:21 pm
What great photos Bernie got! Thanks for sharing. The Champs Elysées filled with people is how it looked when we were here one year for New Year’s Eve.
July 16, 2016 @ 2:31 am
GREAT photos! What a fabulous finish to your trip.
July 16, 2016 @ 3:30 am
Thank you, Linda! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog paired with Bernie’s outstanding photos! A great combination!
July 16, 2016 @ 12:09 pm
Thank Bernie for the beautiful pictures. I have enjoyed looking at all the pictures of Paris this summer.
Hope you have safe travels home.