Le Quatorze Juillet

Zut alors!  Missed being in Paris again for Bastille Day! Without a doubt, it is the biggest party in the world, tho' Carnival in Rio and Mardi Gras in New Orleans surely are contenders.  I had to make do here in St. Louis with celebrating with a dear friend and fellow francophile. Pat gave me a wonderful gift, which will be my next bedside book, "Paris to the Moon" by Adam Gopnik.  It is about living in France, his dream since he was 8 years old.  For some reason, I too, from as far back as I can recall, was always obsessed with all things French.  Must have something to do with beauty, culture and lifestyle for starters!

You can't have a military parade without an air show, and what an air show!  Along the Champs-Elysees, the Patrouille de France burst out of the clouds, streaming the national flag behind them.

                                      

Lastly, a magnificent fireworks display lit up the Eifel Tower.  Well, maybe next year I'll be one of the revelers.  It's dawn to dusk excitement.  Happy Bastille Day to you all!