Today is Le 14 juillet (Bastille day), the day France celebrates its Revolution... Like every year, there is going to be a huge march on the Champs Elysées and like last year it seems it's going to rain [update: not really, it's a beautiful day!]! This year's theme is "overseas" (we have several troops stationed in the West Indies and other French territories). The firemen will also be honored, as they celebrate their 200 year anniversary this year (I wonder who put out fires in Paris before?!), hence this photo, that I took from my window a few days ago, when my boulangerie caught on fire!
Happy Bastille Day, Eric! I am curious to know about how the French typically celebrate this day; what foods are enjoyed, etc.
ReplyDeleteA fire at the boulangerie?!?! Quelle horreur - I hope no baguettes were harmed ;-). Seriously, I hope everyone was okay.
Happy Bastille Day! I agree with Monnica. I like my baguettes crispy, but not THAT crispy.
ReplyDeleteToo bad that fireman is all covered up in gear. On one of my trips my apartment was next door to a fire station, and those Paris firemen were so handsome!
Happy Bastille Day, Eric!
ReplyDeleteHappy Bicentennial!
ReplyDeleteAh, Mrs. Vandertramp, we first met in high school ;-)
ReplyDeleteI read that the firemen were un-paid volunteers before the City started the Fire Department.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to the Bastille Day event. We are under grey skies here in San Francisco too.
Happy 14th July Eric, hope you have very happy celebrations!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holiday Eric! Hope you had a great day! It was nice to come home from holiday and have your great pictures to catch up on. Last I was in France (Amiens) the fireman were coming 'round selling their calendars (and not the sexy versions we sell in the US, but serious photos). A fundraiser they said.
ReplyDeleteAh, Mrs. Vandertramp appreciates Les Pompiers en forme! I wish you a very Happy Bastille Day, Eric....and no burnt baguettes!
ReplyDeleteI can't see his face, but still I'll bet he's beau (like most pompiers, it seems). So sorry to hear about your boulangerie. Do you having to go elsewhere now, or did the fire brigade get there quickly and save the day (and les baguettes)?
ReplyDeleteHappy Bastille Day although it is over by now? I am new to your blog site and am loving it. I do hope your home was saved.
ReplyDeleteHappy Bastille Day! Are you all going to le Tour Eiffel for fireworks? I'll try to catch it on the internet if they show it.
ReplyDeleteHappy Bastille Day, Eric! Firemen seem rather attractive in any language.
ReplyDeleteHum...
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to disappoint you Eric but, if your good French revolutionary spirit incline to think that we celebrate the storming of the Bastille in July 14, 1789, in reality we celebrate the "Fête de la Federation" which took place just a year after at Champ de Mars...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%AAte_de_la_F%C3%A9d%C3%A9ration
Happy Bastille Day!
ReplyDeleteJoyeux Le Quatorze Juillet, Eric! I do hope that the skies are clear for the celebration. I will watch the fireworks on the internet, but I wish that I could be there in person for le défilé!
ReplyDeleteBises,
Genie
Happy Bastille Day! Enjoy your holiday and I imagine that you're pretty thankful for the fireman this year, especially after the boulangerie fire! :)
ReplyDelete(Ooh, an Eiffel Tower fireworks picture to come? *pretty please with sugar on top*)
Bonne fête pour le 14 juillet Eric.
ReplyDeleteHappy Bastille Day, Eric! Hope your boulanger and boulangerie are on the mend!
ReplyDeleteHappy Bastille Day Paris. This is off topic I know but I have a good friend travelling to Paris with husband and teen-age daughters. Anyone have personal recommendations for a hotel, perhaps small, easy metro access to the main sites that you can personally recommend that is priced well. Any tips appreciated.
ReplyDeleteHappy Bastille Day.I just returned from my annual Paris visit,sorry that I couldn't stay for the celebration.But, no complaints.Great weather,so much happening...the police closing off the street below my apt for the Sun rollerbladers,the Paris Triathlon, they ran & biked by the apt,and so much more.Thank you Paris,and of course Eric.
ReplyDeleteHappy Bastille Day...love those silver helmets:)
ReplyDeleteI imagine the firemen had fewer clothes on for the Bal des Pompiers though Eric, non?
ReplyDelete@Stephane, I think Eric is referring to the 200th anniversary of the fire brigade, not the revolution barricades.
I confess I'm confused as can be. Bastille Day doesn't celebrate the storming of the Bastille but a brief restoration of the royal dictatorahip, uh, I mean monarchy???? Now that the monarchy is long gone, why is it still celebrated? I would think with the passing of time, that the day would celebrate the new style of government based on votes, not bloodline. Somebody enlighten me, please:)
ReplyDeleteAh, who cares? Let's party! Just kidding.
ReplyDelete@Jeff, I was kinda thinking the same thing. I think it's just an excuse to dust off the military uniform and have a parade and -- party!:) But I wanted to acknowledge Bastille Day on my blog and sound half-way intelligent about it!ha!
ReplyDeleteSorry I mislead you with my 200 year anniversary thing...The "original" Bastille day did take place in 1789, and this year is the 200 year celebration of the firemen.
ReplyDeleteBTW, if you want to see the Feu d'artifice (fireworks) it's here.
I just adore this site. Thanks so much for these posts. I visited Paris 4 years ago and fell in love with the place!
ReplyDeleteJeanne
Congrats to all the people of France. the growth rate of France is very high
ReplyDelete