Today was the day! The whole reason I had chosen these specific dates for my trip were to be in Paris to celebrate Fete National. In America it is referred to as Bastille Day but in France they say either fete national (National Day) or Le 14 Juliet (July 14th). This day commemorates the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the unity of the French people.

The day began with a trip to the Champs Elysees for the military parade. Hundreds of military vehicles lined the streets in anticipation of this event. I waited patiently, not too far from the Arc de Triomphe, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Patrouille de France (military plane flyover.) What a spectacular sight! It was quite thrilling to experience such a display of patriotism. In hindsight, however, if I were to do this again, I think I would view this outside the Louvre. I think it would make for a more comfortable and easy going experience since I really didn’t care too much about the parade itself. I was able to catch sight of French president Emmanuel Macron as he rode through the parade, so that was pretty cool.

Later that evening, I headed out to the Big Event, le grand événement. The whole reason for everything, my meaning of life at this point. Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower. I knew I wanted to experience this on the Champ de Mars with a picnic and sweeping vistas. I set out to walk and quickly came upon a line of people waiting to get in. I asked the couple in front of me in line if I was in the right spot (it was) and became fast friends with the couple. They invited me to stick with them and experience the show together. So incredibly kind (Shout out to Kaitlyn and Joe!)

When I tell you, I have never been in a crowd this large, OMG. I’m very glad that I was “adopted’ into this new family because it was completely overwhelming. What started as a somewhat orderly line soon turned into complete and utter madness. Throngs of french patriots and eager tourists swarmed the gates. Security confiscated bottle after bottle of wine. Somehow I managed to sneak in my little bottle of rose. Woot woot! We stuck together and began our search for a patch of grass. Complete madhouse. We ended up plopping down right on the pavement with a direct view of the Iron Lady. I was pretty stoked. Quickly, the pathway closed in as more and more people packed in. “Close the gap!” we all yelled excitedly once a clearing opened up. Much to our delight, the group that squeezed in close right in front of us was a group of twenty something students living in Paris. Their countries/cities of origins spanned the globe and they could not have been more welcoming. Sam (the quietest one) was from France, although I don’t know where, she was helpful in explaining the “french way” of things and giving me a breakdown of french politics. Adam (from Lyon) was a total sweetheart and super excited to see the fireworks for the 1st time. Megan (from Lausanne, Switzerland) was with her partner Ricardo and his sister Anna (both from Brazil). Megan had grown up all over the world, and had so many great stories to tell. Ricardo was the most boisterous of the group. He was animated and energetic, and incredibly thoughtful and introspective in his conversations. We discussed policitics in the states, violence, healthcare, and even some topics like Emily in Paris (He’s a big fan. Surprise, the french friends, not so much.) Before the show started, he leaned in close and told me to get ready because “the french know drama” and tonight would not disappoint.

Moments later, the tower began to twinkle. My heart raced. The music played and the tension mounted. Then all the lights of the tower were extinguished except for the sparkling lights. Next the tower was illuminated in blue, white, and red representing the nations flag, as the national anthem was played. The deafening tones echoed throughout the crowded park as the patriotic mass sang with pride.

Showtime! Lasting roughly 30 minutes, the presentation was like nothing I had seen before. It was quite the show. A kaleidoscope of colorful lasers, twinkling lights, incredible tunes, and oh yeah, freaking fireworks shooting out of the Eiffel Tower! I could not believe that this was something that I was experiencing. Best. Night. Ever.

After the show ended, we parted ways with the Europeans, promising to keep in touch. As it turned out, my new friends were staying in the exact same hotel as me. What a small world! Somehow I managed to fall asleep, even though adrenaline was still coursing through my veins. I had to get some shut eye since tomorrow I was leaving for London!

Links, Tips, and Locations:

Arc de Triomphe Vantage Point 127 Av. des Champs-Élysées, 75008 Paris

Eiffel Tower Fireworks show Information here 2 All. Adrienne Lecouvreur, &5005 Paris