Bastille Day

So the French have it right, the night before Bastille Day is the big party, and boy did we party! We went to the Bal des Pompiers de Port Royal. Fireman's ball! It was awesome, an old square had basically been turned into an open air dancefloor with a DJ, bar etc. We partied there till 4.30am! Was lots of fun! They had a few weird songs, one really funny almost 'folk dance' song at the end, will have to figure out what it is! Here are a few photos...




Needless to say we were buggered but we still managed to go and find a boulangerie where we could buy fresh croissants straight out of the oven... so much gluten but so good when you are hungover/still drunk! I cannot get over how good it was, so worth it! It was an incredible feeling, eating a croissant while watching the sunrise over Notre Dame...


Needless to say we didn't make the parade at 9am! OOooops! It bucketed down with rain though so kinda glad, I got see some of the aircraft, their flight path was pretty much over the campus so I could see them flying in formation. We did go into Paris later, to the Arc de Triumph and the Champs Elysees, where there was a little parade. The tomb of the unknown soldier is under the Arc de Triumphe, the small ceremony reminded me of Anzac Day with sentries on each corner of the tomb and the President (yes I saw Nicolas Sarkozy .. I think!) laying a wreath, with a lot of veterans around.
After the little ceremony, we went to Maccas! I know its terrible to go Maccas in Paris but when you're hungover nothing else will hit the spot! hehe! We did a bit of browsing along The Champs Elysees, I love the arcades there, they are full of quirky little shops - I must return!




After the parade, we met up with some students from my future college (EPF) to get a good position for the fireworks, we were on a bridge over the Seine with the Eiffel tower on our right and the fireworks going off at Tracadero on our left. They turned the lights of the Eiffel tower off during the show. The fireworks were amazing - a full half hour of them and so many and so beautiful! Was absolutely fantastic - my camera doesn't do fireworks well...


But yes, another late night only getting to bed at about 1.30am again! So tired....