Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Bastille Day Parade 2008


Another of our Bastille Day tradition: Le défilé militaire (the military parade). Last year I was too lazy to go so I posted a photo that I stole from the television (!), but this morning I made the effort to wake up early and pay the French army men a visit. And I did not regret it; even though I'm not too much into military things, I enjoyed the parade and its final climax: the landing of 7 paratroopers right in front of the official tribune on the Place de la Concorde. Really impressive. Almost at the same time another tradition took place, this time in Southern California: a PDP gathering! Starring Tall Gary, Pont Girl, Carrie and Petrea and her husband. If you're a true visitor to PDP these names will undoubtedly ring a bell! Now, you can see them for real...

71 comments:

  1. Yahoo! 1st in today!

    Dermo

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  2. Great Perspective, Impressive Photo!

    Dermo

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  3. I was dying to see something about the 14 juillet parade... but the photos of the Southern Cali PDP Gathering totally got my attention.
    You guys look great!!!!!!!

    How cool is PDP?!?!!

    Lovely to see your faces!

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  4. Great photo, SoCal PDP group! You all look wonderful!

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  5. Let me be the third to say great shots Soho-Cal Peeps! Thanks all for sharing.

    Eric...I thought your photo last year from the TV was cool...love this one too! Merci for being an early riser for us bloggers.

    BTW...What do you think of a snail being named [gulp] in your honor? Fame really is fleeting! :-)

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  6. I wonder how early Eric had to rise? When I first looked at this, I thought, 'what if they had a riot and nobody came?' seeing the evenly spaced security people, but when I enlarged it I could see the massed marchers. It would seem Eric (the large) is fleet of foot to catch such a perfect overlay of statue to contrails. Nice!

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  7. Hey Southern California -- it is great to see you. I think a dinner party was a great way to celebrate Bastille. I'm with Eric, "I'm not too much into military things." However, his photo is so dramatic and patriotic. I just love it!

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  8. More men in uniforms! I think we have a new theme here at PDP!

    Exciting photo, Eric! Thanks for getting out early to take it.

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  9. Happy Bastille Day (well, at least it still is here in Los Angeles)! This is a great photo, Eric - I love how you got the red white and blue streamers - great timing!

    P.S. I can't believe that my picture is on PDP - I feel so famous ;)

    P.P.S. Happy belated birthday, Monica!

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  10. Thanks Pont Girl!

    You´re right, it´s cool to see your photo here!!!

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  11. Happy quartorze juillet! (A bit late, I know!) . I’ve made a small tribute today, via an unexpected Australia-France friendship symbol, and a small quiz to help celebrate.

    Sydney Daily Photo

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  12. Le grand Charles had a good view of the proceedings. It does look impressive. Sorry I missed it, glad you didn't!

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  13. Congrats Pont Girl...you are famous. Of course, we'll be expecting greater things of you now. With fame comes pappa's razzi and donations to all kinds of charities and firemen's b.... and schmoozing with the Cloony's and Pitt's of the world and having snails named in your honor...and then GULP! it's over before you know it. But we will not forget you in PDP land! :-)

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  14. It definitely rings my bell!!
    You look so great and as Coltrane said, you're beautiful people.
    You're so lucky, it was probably a lovely dinner!
    (Tall Gary, children's highchair? LOOOL)

    Eric your picture is really nice, but I've to say that it's cliché! De Gaulle et les couleurs du drapeau français, come on! LOL I hope you had a nice moment there.
    I missed the 14th, it's quite weird.

    BTW, I'll be your new neighbour (almost!). Bonjour rive droite.

    Have a nice day all!

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  15. I fondly recall being in Paris in the past on Bastille Day! Fun!! I'm back again and hope to be able to continue for awhile (illness). Missed all of you!

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  16. I've just put this in the other PDP comments aswell.

    It really is wierd putting faces to names. You build up an image real or imagined of people via their images and comments. I had expected Tall Gary for instance to be short, assuming it was a joke moniker. See how wrong can you be. Hope you all had a great time.

    We have lots of french teachers on the island, and yes celebrations were high. Happy Bastille Day.

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  17. Eric, we're all happy that you decide to get up and snap this photo. The statue of de Gaulle draped in the tri-color - what a perfect Bastille Day photo.

    Petrea (et al.) thanks for sharing your outing with us. Sounds like you had a wonderful time.

    David’s Digital Art!

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  18. Eric, this photo's spectacular. Guille, I hereby scold you for calling it cliché (lovingly, for you are the resident brat)! If you enlarge the photo you'll see how the planes line up beyond the statue in the little niche between the trees behind the statue. I'm amazed at Eric's precision and artistry here.

    Eric, when you looked at this one on the screen, did you secretly say "Ah, oui!!!"?

    We had a lovely time celebrating our love of France and PDP last night. Next time maybe we'll choose a place that requires less driving, so we can be less well-behaved. Thanks for posting the photos, Eric.

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  19. Wow! Nice of those planes to fly just where you wanted them to so you could capture this wonderful image Eric! I can practically hear them zooming overhead.

    Awesome that you posted the SoCal PDP party photos! What a fun looking group! I hope to see more photos on your blog Petrea. I was bummed to have missed this gathering, but I can't wait to be in LA next week!

    Monica happy belated birthday!!

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  20. The timing and positioning of the Bastille Day parade photo certainly is fortuitous. More "Luck of the Eric."

    Rive droigt, Guille? I'd guess the artsy Marais area (as if you could afford the rent). Or were you inspired by Eric's July 13 photo? Probably not, huh? Oh, I think I know now. So how long did it take you to find your own flat in Place des Vosges?

    When are we going to hear more about Tokyo, Guille? I for one am all ears.

    Yes, Petrea. There was that, "One more toast! Uh, maybe not. Too much driving." No problem like that in Tokyo where the mass transit is superb, if not crowded to the point of heat generation by compression. Or in Paris, which can be surprisingly walkable. (How are the taxis in Paris?)

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  21. That's so beautiful! I didn't know that jets could produce those clouds in color.

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  22. Thanks Monica, Kelly, Coltrane, Lois Simon, Guille & Katie (who I hope I can meet next week!!!). A toast back at you beautiful people. We really had fun.

    It's weird, babooshka, about the faces, isn't it -- I had the same reaction to watching the PDP video.

    We had a lovely dinner on the terrace at Lily's and I had my first Kir Royale (miam)as I sat before Eric the escargot, who awaited his demise with great dignity. I'm not sure, but, I think I spied a tiny, tiny camera (with a pretty big lens) around his little snaily neck.

    I'm looking forward to more food adventures in France (tho I don't know if I'll be able to handle a steak tartare). Hope all of you had a lovely Bastille Day and thanks as ever, Eric, for getting up early for those of us in the fan pods around the world.

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  23. Gorgeous photo, Eric!! Thank you so much for sacrificing sleep for us! You are so good to us-- getting up early and going out in a crowd for this lovely shot! Merci!

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  24. Christie just said EXACTLY what I was going to say. OMG, now we PDPers are starting to think alike! Eric, you've created a monster (a wonderful, friendly, Francophile monster).
    LOVE DeGaulle in silhouette with the contrails behind him.

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  25. Add my thanks to the mix. I awakened on Bastille Day in America thinking of you celebrating it (and surely procuring a photo we'd love!) in France. :) The French red, white, and blue are gorgeous on the Parisian blue sky.

    Thanks for posting the CA gathering pics as well. It is moving to see the connections that have been made via PDP.

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  26. Been so busy I didn't have a chance to catch up with yesterday's posts. Pont Girl you have me LOOOOOOL -- firemen, firemen, firemen!

    Suzy -- where and when will you be in SoCal? maybe we can meet?

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  27. I do hope you had a good Bastille Day!

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  28. Excellent photo!
    And thanks for posting the SoCA PDP pics. It's a tribute to PDP how people are connecting with each other...

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  29. Great shot, Eric... Your photo as well as the watching the parade on tv yesterday really inspired me to make the parade next year.. It looks so impressive!! Hope you had a nice time... My second 14 julliet in France but the first one spent in Paris for the festivities!! I'm always up for a good party!! Take care, Leesa

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  30. Wow this is such a beautiful picture! My french teacher was there with his family.

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  31. Katie, thanks!

    Guille, are you writing from the other side of the world??!!

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  32. Wow, it's not much to celebrate but I just realized it happened on the day after Bastille Day for me to finally reach my 1,000th profile hit. [strike up the band]
    ;-)

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  33. Hey Monica! How's the birthday girl doing?

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  34. Carrie, we are going to my cousin's wedding in Riverside on Friday, then spending the next two days in Santa Monica for the Glow! exhibition.

    Glow! Santa Monica's dusk-to-dawn art extravaganza
    Date: July 19, 2008
    Time: Dusk - Dawn
    Location: Santa Monica Pier and adjacent locations

    In one luminous night "Glow" ensures the total transformation of the historic Santa Monica Pier and adjacent world-famous beach with site-specific works of art. Inspired by the wildly successful Nuit Blanche in Paris and taking its spirit from the fabled grunion that live in local waters, Glow promises to fill the hours between dusk and dawn with compelling, enchanting and effervescent sights and sounds. Commissioned artwork from internationally renowned artist Usman Haque will combine an array of cutting edge technologies to create a magical symphony of natural resources and audience participation that will be visible from many vantage points in the Glow Zone. Shih Chieh Huang, recent artist-in-residence at the Smithsonian, will turn the bike path beneath the pier into a Neptunian lair of luminescent sea life. Another dozen of the region's innovators will create breathtaking works that will captivate viewers throughout the night. Admission free. For info: www.glowsantamonica.com or tel. 310-458-8350

    Petrea, I didn't get your email but I'm assuming that you had the same question?

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  35. Wow, that is impressive indeed!!! Is that a first (having the paratroopers land on the Champs Elysees)?

    This is a good shot, highly symbolic, too ;) Well done. Off I go, visit the Southern Cal. PDP party.

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  36. Glad you Cal fans had a great gathering. I'm still trying to gather more people in the Chicago area for the Labor Day weekend. I've communicated with Kelly. Any others?

    I, too, am not into military regalia. However, I'm more patriotic than many people know. Loving one's country does not mean being militaristic. Too bad so many confuse the two. I like this photo because it's patriotic. Ok, ok, I confess: the scene in 'Casablanca' when all the French stand up and sing the Marseillaise...I cry every time. Yes, yes, I'm a softie. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iYbEPZVVIA

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  37. WOW, very nice to meet you five, Petrea & John, Carrie, Pont Girl and Tall Gary (almost for real)!!! It seems like you were having a fine dinner.
    Though I am not fond of escargots, I would have tasted just one -- the Eric's one ! -- just to taste ;)).

    Thank you for sharing this new proof of the success story of ParisDailyPhoto! Who knows what will happen next in the PDP story??

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  38. God, that's a cinematic masterpiece.

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  39. Thanks for the link, Jeff! Brought tears to my eyes, too.

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  40. Yes, thanks, Jeff! I've got goosebumps! It reminded me of my resident Frenchman, who was humming that tune all day yesterday...and also singing some song about Napoleon getting his private parts stuck in his motorcycle transmission or some such...does anyone know that one?

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  41. Jeff: that has always been my favorite scene. I have a music box that plays La Marseillaise and it puts a smile on my face every time.

    Coltrane: I think it's 1003 now. I peeked!

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  42. Ooooh, how prettiful!

    You SoCal PDPers, such a good looking group! Although I must say that tall gary looks kinda like a deer in headlights. Don't really care to have your picture taken? Oh was the booster seat sticking you in uncomfortable places?!?

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  43. Corinne, ...who knows what will happen next in the PDP story...I think (other than Eric's intriguing creative genius)that is another reason why I keep coming back to PDP.
    Eric, there is something about silhouettes that are so interesting to me. merci!

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  44. LOL Coltrane - I will gladly hang out with Messieurs Clooney et Pitt any day (or night ;))

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  45. Coltrane: 1005 now! Congrats!

    I´m doing great! Do I get to be birthday girl for the whole week? That´s fine by me as long as I get older and better, like a good wine!!

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  46. Monica...sure, why not make the birthdays last I say!

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  47. mona lisa, les sapeurs pompiers, de gaulle ... this is wicked who is next, can't way for tomorrow [plus it is my birthday ;-]]
    inge

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  48. I agree, Monica. I celebrated Gary Oldman's birthday for quite awhile after the actual day! No reason to limit yourself to just one 24 hour period of fun!

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  49. I agree, Monica. I celebrated Gary Oldman's birthday for quite awhile after the actual day! No reason to limit yourself to just one 24 hour period of fun!

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  50. Yes Lily, me too and I couldn't agree more with 'Eric's intriguing creative genius' as you mentioned.

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  51. soosha_g,

    I think you are right on both counts. I just don't have a clue how to go about being photographed. And the booster seat kept sticking me in uncomfortable places such as next to and across from altogether too amazing people. It just made my antlers spin.

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  52. TG -- visual of the spinning antlers -- just the best -- ROLF!!

    Suzy -- I'll be around both Sat and Sun and am very close to Santa Moonica (as I like to call it -- I think it sounds nice). Don't want to intrude on any plans you have, so, if there's a good time, let me know -- I'm completely flexible. (Before, during or after the Glow!) And if it doesn't seem like it will work, that's all good, too.

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  53. Monica, yes I'm writing from the other side of the world, like you actually! :) Bises

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  54. Well no matter how you were being poked you're still a handsome guy!

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  55. Interesting that you use the word poked Soosha. I've actually been suffering from a fractured rib these days. I can get "poked" somewhat painfully just by inhaling or exhaling. But wait a minute, I don't see any name of the person you are addressing. Did I just bust myself as being unconscionably vain?

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  56. TG, I had no idea you were in pain during our dinner. We shouldn't have forced you to dance so much.

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  57. "You're so vain, I bet you think this comment is about you..." ;oP

    You poor thing, gary. I hope your rib heals soon or that you have lots of pain meds!!!

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  58. Petrea, the dancing wasn't so bad at all. It was the mud wrestling that really got to me.

    Thanks for your concern Petrea and Soosha but it does seem to be doing much better now. In fact, it's in such splendid shape I'm gonna audition it at Tony Roma's.

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  59. Actually, I ripped off the band of tape yesterday and haven't used over-the-counter pain killers since Sunday. Not bad. And, no, instead of something like ibuprofen I haven't shifted to skin-popping smack.

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  60. Wow - Tall Gary, I thought your fractured rib comments over the past week or so were jokes. At dinner of course, we didn't realize, as we pushed you into the mud and did fake body slams to impress the other dinner patrons, that you were actually wincing in pain, we just thought you were having a good time!

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  61. Me too, Carrie! I still would have slammed him, but I'd have slammed him more softly.

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  62. I can assure you that any pain I may have felt was far outweighed by the intense pleasure of your close physical presence and that my grimaces and cries were less that of pain and more in the realm of a building ecstasy seeking a sudden and fulfilling surcease. Or was that from the dirt clod wedgie?

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  63. Carrie's funny comment and "...but I'd have slammed him more softly," made me want to quote Eric:
    LOOOOOOOLLL!

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  64. What a great angle, I wonder did you plan that or just happened to be there?

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