Parisian Weekend

Each year, the French people celebrate their independence from the tyrannical monarchy of the eighteenth century on what is known as La Fête National. It is also commonly referred to as Bastille Day (signifying the storming of the Bastille prison). The day is filled with similar events found in the U.S. on July 4th, such as fireworks, music, and parades.

Mons is only about 1.5 hours away from Paris via the TGV train. Each day, the TGV offers 2 direct trains between Paris and Mons. The cheap and quick trip from Mons to Paris combined with the fact that I studied France’s political history last semester proved much too tempting to pass up a weekend in Paris to celebrate Bastille Day.

I arrived in Paris early Saturday morning and headed straight to the Champs-Élysées to catch the military parade. People in uniform from every branch of the French military marched in lockstep down the famous street, while the French Air Force simultaneously staged an air show. The sides of the street were packed with so many people trying to see the soldiers. Normally, I would have been a typical American and pushed my way through to get a glimpse of all the commotion, but because it was a holiday for the French people, I refrained from my American ways and allowed the others to have the better view.

After I had my fill of the parade, I walked from the Champs-Élysées to the Seine River, near the Palais Royal. This is one my favorite parts of the city because it is filled with statues honoring French political figures throughout history. One that caught my eye was a statue of Marquis de Lafayette given to France by the U.S.

I also found one of my favorite historical figures, Winston Churchill, just hangin’ out.

This was my second time to Paris rendering me to use the rest of my day to visit things that I missed the first time. My night would be dedicated to the concert and fireworks show in the Champs de Mars (the park in front of the Eiffel Tower).

Thankfully, my traveling companions and I arrived to the Champs de Mars early enough to get a good section of the grass. We had a quasi-picnic and people-watched until the show started. It was a great feeling to be amidst French families and groups of friends waiting for their national party to begin. This provided an insight into France that cannot be experienced by looking at a monument or visiting a church.

The whole spectacle was beautiful and it was truly one of the coolest things I have ever done.