Bastille Day

Bastille Day in France doesn't go by that name at all, it is either called 'Le Quatorze Juillet' or 'La Fête Nationale' and, at least in Paris, the parade involved only military troops. I shouldn't say 'only,' really, because they were every sort of troop of soldiers you could imagine. Of course, there were some on horseback and some playing marching music, but also the alpine units, firefighters, paratroopers, and others. I didn't get a good picture, but the Patrouille de France also did a flyover, as well as bunches of helicopters and other planes. After the parade, the military units dispersed to different neighborhoods to have closer contact with the public. I took this picture in front of the Opera Garnier. I wonder what they told that little girl about the purpose of that gun.

I watched the fireworks display at the Eiffel Tower, and it was the most magnificent fireworks show I've ever seen, partly because the music was great -- a tribute to the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birthday. I even took a video, which show some of the middle part, when they played one of my favorite Mozart piano concertos:



If you can't see the video as it is embedded, you can watch it here.