Bastille Day

On 'Bastille Day' (which it is only know as outside of France, or the '14th of July' as it is known here) the French military stage a mass procession down the Champs-Elysees to prove to the world that the French military still packs a punch. (and from all appearances it certainly does) A parade that is enthusiastically cheered on by patriotic French men and women.

So on the 14th of July we joined 700,000 other Parisians and headed on down to the Champs Elysees to take in the might and majesty of the French Army. It was pretty hot and we got there just before it began at 10:30, As such, we had a bit of a hard time trying to see things. We were fighting with 699,998 other people who happened to be there at the same time. Our desire to sleep in on a public holiday was punished by the gods of military parades, who were not smiling on us as they provided us with a spot at the rear of the crowd, straining our necks to see the parade.

Firstly, I must say, Americans do not have a monopoly over having fast flying jets leaving red white and blue stripes in the sky. The French are equally adept at it.

After a whole stack of jets and other exciting aircraft flew over it was time for the actual parade to begin. For the next hour and a half solid we were treated to all sorts of soldiers, lots of tanks and wonderful military toys. Don't let anyone tell you for one second that the French are not nationalistic or patriotic. Each and every military unit that graced its way down the cobblestones was met with a cheer and enthusiastic clapping of hands. Once the final tank had rumbled its way down the road and President Sarkozy and run his eye over all of the units (mercifly for him none were wearing headscarfs) there was a stirring rendition of "La Marseillaise" that rounded off proceedings beautifully at midday.