Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite: Bastille Day in Paris (14 July)

The crew got the promised rest this morning.  Although the National Military Parade took place within a mile of where we are, we watched it on French TV.

Marching down the Champs-Elysee.

The planes flew right over our place.

Everlie conducting official Bastille Day observances after the parade.

Although the weather cleared up, we didn't leave the house till after lunch.  Scott and the Boys went to the "Royal Palace* Gardens" which are only three blocks from our place, while Everlie got ready.
    *--They have a lot of old palaces, there's one every other block!

Royal Palace Garden--Hide and Seek in progress

More of the Royal Palace Garden

 Our day "officially" began at 2:30 pm.  We joined a walking tour of the Latin Quarter that focused on the birthplace of the French Revolution.  We met an interesting Australian couple who had take their three children around the world for 6 months (also in identical outfits)!

Cafe Procope--the oldest continuously operating Cafe in Paris.
Still in operation today.  Previously visited by such notables
as Benjamin Franklin.

Napoleon Bonaparte ate here during a period when he was on the rocks.
He had to pawn his hat to pay his tab--they still have it.
(Now, c'mon....you gotta admit that's pretty cool!)

The tour was good but was definitely geared for the adult history buff.  The crew was doing a good job, but the guide made a fatal mistake when, after an hour, he lead us into Luxembourg Gardens.  It was a beautiful afternoon, perfect temperature and the rain had finally stopped.  The temptation was too much and we bailed on him.

Trying to look interested. 

Palpable Enthusiasm!

Luxembourg Palace--Home of the French Senate

We had a great time in Luxembourg Gardens and spent a couple of hours there.  They had a great play area for kids (although you had to pay).  They also have pay toilets:  20 cents to stand, 40 cents to sit--ladies are out of luck.

Luxembourg Gardens--Magnificent Afternoon

This guy knew just enough English and we knew just enough French.  He beat Ethan handily.
If this isn't an iconic French afternoon--what is?!

The weather was a bit moody and we got a little rain, but nothing like yesterday.  After it cleared we decided to push on to Sacre-Coeur.  Another Paris Icon, this church on a hill is rumored to have some of the best views in Paris.

The steps on the way up.  The site is
covered up with tourists and gawkers selling junk.

Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart).
New by Paris standards: Finished in 1914. 

The view did not disappoint.  

We had some interesting subway experiences on the way there--we've gotten pretty good at squeezing all 5 of us into 3.5 square feet of floor space.  The subway here seems very variable:  Line 4 is dirty, old, crowded and "ghetto."  Line 1 is crowded, but modern, riders are mostly professionals and tourists.  Line 12 is clean and hardly used.  Now that we have it all figured out, we are about ready to leave!

Paris has a lot of "independent artists" running around. 

A clean and uncrowded station--what a relief!

We came home, cooked some dinner and set out again to watch the fireworks.  Although the fireworks are at the Eiffel Tower, we only went a couple of blocks and watched from the end of the grounds of the Louvre, where we could get a pretty good partial view (The park around the Eiffel Tower usually has 750K+ for this event and is similar to the scene on the Washington Mall for the 4th of July--we decided to skip the crowds!).

Eiffel Tower illuminated.

Fireworks in progress.

On the way home, the Louvre at night.

This is how the boys amused themselves while waiting.  Wherever we go, we have quite a notable environmental footprint!

Attempted video post:

Another great day (especially without all the rain).  Vive La France!