An American in Paris (part une)

Notre Dame

I arrived in Paris on Thursday morning and met up with Ardena in the Latin Quarter. Reuniting with an old friend is always a good feeling, especially when you haven't seen the person in over six months and when you've spent an entire summer away from everything that is familiar.

We spent the afternoon roaming around the city. After admiring the gorgeous architecture of Notre Dame and the Opera Garnier, we stopped for lunch. And while eating sandwiches in a cafe, we spotted a kid wearing a TCU shirt. I introduced myself and learned that he was an incoming freshman. What a small world. Then we spent some time at the Jardin du Luxembourg where it seemed like half of Paris had come to enjoy the sunshine on their day off of work.

July 14 is Bastille Day, a national holiday in France so there was a lot of free events and festivities around the city. We had to skip out on the military parade at Champs-Élysées, because my train did not arrive until 10:00 am. But we decided to join another million people and watch the fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower. Ardena, Gabi (our new friend from Brazil that we met at our hostel), and I pitched in for a baguette, cheese, and wine at the nearest supermarket. Then we picnicked on the Champ de Mars, listening to live music performances and waiting on the sun to set. Finally the sky went dark, the tower began to sparkle, and the fireworks ignited. This year's theme was "From Broadway to Paris," so the fireworks were accompanied by popular Broadway tunes. The French are funny. On one hand, they are booing the announcer when she welcomes the crowd a second time in English; and on the other hand they choose to end the firework display with West Side Story's "America." Nevertheless, there we were-- a Brazilian, Spaniard, and American cheering and celebrating a French holiday with the rest of Paris.

Jardin du Luxembourg

J'adore these vintage cars

Bastille Day celebration at the Eiffel Tower

why this song was chosen for the finale, I'll never understand

As an annual fundraiser and to commemorate the holiday, the fire stations of Paris open their doors in the evening for a fireman's ball. So after the show, Ardena and I headed to the station on rue de Sévigné. The line was out the door and the entrance fee was donation-based. The party took place in two open courtyards of the fire house--one with live music and the other a DJ. We were showered with attention (often unwelcomed) and free beers from many of the men there including two extremely tall British chaps, two short Italian guys, and two bald spectacles-wearing men that looked like they were old enough to be our grandfathers. Needless to say it was a ball for everyone; the locals and tourists, firemen and citizens, young and old partied until the wee hours of the morning. It was a great way to end my first day in Paris and first Bastille Day!