Partying with the Parisians - July 14

Technically, my day started off the same way the last one ended. I grabbed a crepe with some friends at midnight and walked back to the hotel to sleep. Once my alarm went off after just a few short hours, I arose and got ready for the day. July 14 is Bastille Day in France and threw on a beret to celebrate the holiday. For those who do not know, here is a brief history of Bastille Day:

Bastille Day - July 14

• July 14, 1789 - The fall of the Bastille in Paris

• The Bastille was originally built as a fortress but it was eventually used as a political prison under the Bourbon monarchy

• A group of revolutionaries captured the prison and released the prisoners held there

• This event marked the beginning of the French Revolution and the eventual fall of the French monarchy

These celebrations are comparable to those in the United States for the Fourth of July. Each year, the city shuts down and hosts a variety of events to celebrate the holiday – parades, speeches, military flyovers, and a fireworks show. I knew I wanted to see the celebrations. When else would I be in the capital of France on one of their biggest national holidays?

A large group of my classmates and I left the hotel and headed for the parade route. Although we thought we left with ample time to head to the Champs Elysse (a shopping center near the Arc de Triomphe) we were wrong. All the streets were blocked by a military brigade and so there was no straight path to the festivities. We attempted to cut around through different byways and pavillions, but still couldn’t see the parade. Despite the disappointment of missing the parade, we were still able to see the arguably cooler military flyover.

The flyover started off with an assortment of planes that left a trail of smoke in the colors of the French flag. More large planes flew over, all ranging in size and purpose. We were able to see some famous warplanes and large helicopters still in use. This part was quite intriguing.

At this point, we had been walking for over an hour, and knew we had to head back for our next activities. We maneuvered our way through the tight crowds and found our way to the metro. I have never truly experienced public transportation, especially in such a large city, so I have loved this new adventure.

Back at the hotel, we rested for a few moments before heading out for our next adventure. A small group of us booked tickets to tour the Catacombs! We left our hotel and went on the metro over. We booked an audio tour to enjoy a greater educational depth. The entrance was small and led us to a tight corridor down a spiral staircase. The staircase had over 100 steps down and took us to the entrance of the quarries. The audio tour told us about the history of the Catacombs and the vastness of it all. We went down into the depths of it and saw millions of pieces of skeletal remains. It was a bit macabre but in a unique way. There were skulls and femurs and small pieces of bone fragments all around. It was crazy to see it all and even crazier to think about its meaning.

After making our way back up the spiral staircase, we exited and headed out for lunch. We all stopped at a local cafe and discussed what we had seen. Even now I am still a bit taken aback by it all. We ate and then took a metro back to the area around our hotel. While on the way, I stopped at a local chain grocery store called Monoprix and picked out some picnic essentials such as fresh fruit, cheese, macarons, and small drinks. It was time to have a true Parisian picnic.

I stopped at my room for a quick break in the hotel and then we were off again. Every year, there is a large fireworks display in the heart of Paris to celebrate the national holiday. I knew I had to see it. Many classmates and I made the long trek from our hotel to the Eiffel Tower on foot since the metros were closed. We walked for over an hour to get there and we still had four hours to wait until the spectacle began.

To pass the time, we walked around trying to find the perfect spot. Although we could not get as close to the Eiffel Tower as we hoped, we still found a nice place to sit. A small group and I went around the streets near the Tower and found an elevated storage shed. We hoisted ourselves up and sat around waiting. To pass the time, we ate the fruits and pastries we all brought and played card games. Those few hours felt like only a few minutes since we were having fun.

After waiting for hours to see the fireworks go off, it finally happened. They were MAGICAL. I was concerned that we wouldn’t be able to see the fireworks at all since we were so close to a large monument. Instead, they shot the fireworks OFF THE EIFFEL TOWER. I was absolutely in awe. It was so cool and definitely one of the best firework displays I have ever seen. This went on for half an hour, accompanied by lasers and different lights illuminating the tower. I loved it all.

The show ended with a grand finale filled with bright lights and loud bangs echoing across the city. I was so amazed by it all. I never imagined that I would be in Paris, let alone see the city light up with fireworks on a national holiday. It was incredible.

The fireworks had ended and we knew it was time to head back. All of the streets were closed and pedestrians took to them, dancing and having a great time. We walked along the Seine River, saw people partying on boats, and just took in all the excitement. We were all exhausted and our feet were aching from walking so much, but none of us even realized it until we made it back to the hotel. All we knew was that we were having fun and living it up in Paris.

That’s what I have loved the most so far. Even when I am tired or achy or feeling low, I remind myself of where I am and where I could be. It’s so amazing. I am loving París and loving my time here.

♡ Katie