Best Of

I love Bastille Day in Paris! We have purposefully been in Paris several times in order to be there for it. The military parade down the Champs Elysee is absolutely magnificent with all the pomp and circumstance and French flair that can be imagined. The parade starts with an aerial parade. The parade route starts at the Arc de Triomphe and ends at the grandstands at the Place de la Concorde. My favorite are the horse riders! All of the participants are staged off of the Boulevard. I always look for the street with the horses so I can get close-up pictures.

The sidewalks along the parade route are sectioned off for crowd/security control. A gendarme will wand everyone before they get in the section. The parade route is elbow to elbow with French spectators and people from all over the world. (A couple was standing next to us and overheard us speaking English. They introduced themselves. They graduated from college in the same year! Talk about a small world.)

Later that evening, spectacular fireworks are set off behind the Eiffel Tower. Thousands of people pack picnics and bring blankets to enjoy the show. We love it!!! Each fire department hosts a ball after the fireworks. There are also late dinner cruises on the Seine that provide great views of the fireworks.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. If you use the subway, many of the subway stops are closed in the morning for security reasons. One must arrive very early to get in the front of the cordoned off sections. We prefer the sections that are closest to the McDonalds - the only available bathrooms. At the conclusion of the parade, it is a rush of humanity to exit. We find a cafe on a side street and wait for the crowd to disperse.

If memory serves me correctly, the stores open after the parade.

Typically, I am neither a parade nor crushing crowd fan but, this is truly an exception. The sense of pride and patriotism is incredible. This is truly something that can only be experienced.