Travel

Fourth of July vs Bastille Day

July 2, 2009

Last Updated:

Bastille Day in ParisIn 2006, I was in the south of France on 4th of July. Of course, in France the 4th doesn’t have any significance, so we spent the evening swimming in Cassis, near Marseilles. The 14th of July however, is Bastille Day – France’s national day of celebration, commemorating the storming of the Bastille in 1789.

Bastille Day in Paris:

By this time, we were in Paris and got to experience the madness that is Bastille day at the Eiffel Tower…

“We headed to the Eiffel Tower and it was much too late to stake out a great spot so we ended up waaaaay back, but I think any spot was still a good view! We used our street maps as seats and waited for the show. I must say that fireworks at the Eiffel Tower were better than any Independence Day celebration I have ever seen! They play classical music during the fireworks. It most certainly beat our cheesy rock montages for the 4th. After the fireworks we swam through the masses to the metro and headed “home.” *sigh* I love Paris.”
–my thoughts on Paris, circa 2006

What sacrilege! Oh well, you be the judge… here’s a video of the fireworks and music on Bastille Day at the Eiffel Tower:

Do the French really do it better? Happy 4th of July! I <3 America!  :)

  • Woodman
    July 9, 2009 at 9:24 am

    Don’t you love it when Americans move abroad and then think that everything is better outside? Not.

    Apparently you haven’t been to the massive Macy’s celebration in NYC. It’s been set to patriotic music for as long as I can remember, and the explosions are timed to the music.

    • poweredbytofu
      July 9, 2009 at 10:01 am

      Simmer down, Woodman, I didn’t move abroad — nor do I think everything is better outside the US. I adore America. :) And no, I haven’t been to the massive Macy’s celebration in NYC. Sounds fun though!