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Post by imec on May 17, 2009 16:12:16 GMT
As per Jazz's suggestion on another thread, if you don't mind, I'll look to the Paris experts here for bits of advice to help with my family's vacation to France (1 week in le Tarn and 1 week in Paris) this summer. Thanks in advance for your help.
We'll be in Paris for the July 14 holiday. My kids are 10 and 14 and love fireworks (so do my wife and I). Do I understand correctly that the fireworks near the Eiffel tower are coordinated with a music track? If so, I'd appreciate your suggestions on where to view the display while being able to hear the music. Also, what time should we get there and what would I be allowed to bring (i.e. food, wine etc?).
And what about the parade? I gather the military figures prominently in this which would thrill my 10 yr old son.
And what are your views on the "Firemen's Balls" (please restrain yourselves from making the obvious jokes)?
Anything else you would recommend for the 14th? Please bear in mind this is our first trip to France and may very well enjoy the things more jaded folks might find a waste of time.
Many thanks.
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Post by bjd on May 17, 2009 16:34:54 GMT
Lots of people go to see the fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, so you may not have room to picnic. I have only been once or twice, but find the best vantage point if from across the river. But anywhere nearby will let you see them because there are no high buildings nearby. They start after it's dark, so not until after 10 pm. When they are over, I suggest walking towards your hotel at least a few subway stops, if not all the way. The subways near the Eiffel Tower and stations nearby are always jammed and you might not be able to get on a train right away. Better to walk -- more fun anyway. The military parade is in the morning of the 14th. I have only ever seen it on TV and that was a long time ago. I think it starts around 10 am, but you'll need better information from someone else. The balls are on the evening of the 13th. www.parisetudiant.com/loisirs/evenement.php?ne=5608 Some info on the festivities. Where in the Tarn are you going to be? |
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Post by bjd on May 17, 2009 16:36:14 GMT
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Post by bjd on May 17, 2009 16:36:50 GMT
Damn, the link won't work.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2009 16:40:55 GMT
July 14th is on a Tuesday this year, which makes a difference. Certain events (like firemen's balls) will be better attended on the evening of the 13th for this reason.
However, the Paris fireworks are ALWAYS on the 14th, while some of the suburbs will be doing them on the 13th. It gets dark really late at that time of year. The official Paris time is 22:30 for the fireworks, but I have never seen them begin before 22:45 because it isn't dark enough before then -- I suppose that if ever there is an extremely overcast sky with dark clouds, they might start at 22:30 some year.
That doesn't make all that much difference because you must arrive much earlier. The fireworks are shot from the Palais de Chaillot in the Trocadéro area, across the river from the Eiffel Tower. If you are between the Eiffel Tower and the river, it is really the best viewing area (the bridge is closed, because there is a VIP seating area for diplomats and such there). Quite a few of the effects are at ground level, and you can't really see them well when you are BEHIND the Eiffel Tower. But frankly, the area in front of the Eiffel Tower is a major crush zone, and I would be hesitant about taking a relatively small child there.
The Champ de Mars is therefore the ideal place to settle down with an evening picnic (yes, alcohol is allowed), no later than 20:00 to get a good spot. The area will fill up as time goes by, and no matter how hard people try to hold out from standing up, in the end everybody will stand up. The speaker system for the music goes all the way from the river to Ecole Militaire at the far end of the Champ de Mars, so that part is usually excellent.
Leaving the area at midnight after the fireworks is never fun. The metro is a nightmare. The only trick for getting on it that I can tell you is to not go to nearest station and to instead go one station "upstream" from the direction that you want. If it is at all possible to just walk back to your accommodation after the fireworks, that is the best plan.
As for the military parade in the morning, it is really a fascinating event if you have never seen it (once you have seen it, it is the same old thing year after year). The military divisions parade down from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, where the president and other heads of state and ambassadors are located. Some of the military vehicles feed into the Champs Elysées from avenue George V, so you definitely do not want to be at the top end if you want to see everything.
I consider areas just above the Rond Point des Champs Elysées (avenue Franklin Roosevelt and avenue Montaigne are there) to be among the best locations for seeing everything. Do not stand directly under a big tree or you will miss the very impressive air force flyovers. The whole bottom part of the Champs Elysées is filled with temporary bleachers for "special guests" from the corporate world (damn them to hell) and your local parliamentary representative's cleaning lady and family. I know this because one year I had invitations because one of my colleagues' husband was a security agent for François Mitterrand and she got me some seats.
There will also be big music podiums throughout Paris, probably on the evening of the 13th. Place de la Bastille is always one of the major locations.
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Post by imec on May 17, 2009 17:00:29 GMT
Thank you for the very detailed information - far better than anything I was able to squeeze out of TripAdvisor.
bjd, we have rented a house in/near the village of Le Verdier which is very close to Gaillac.
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Post by bjd on May 18, 2009 7:08:22 GMT
Imec, it's nice around there.
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Post by imec on May 18, 2009 16:32:33 GMT
Thanks. The pictures do look pretty, but it's nice to have an endorsement from someone who knows the area. Very excited!
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2009 17:05:03 GMT
I'll try to dig up some photos of the fireworks from many years ago, too...
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2009 10:35:52 GMT
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Post by imec on May 19, 2009 11:46:49 GMT
Beautiful! Thanks K.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2009 13:47:53 GMT
Here are a few more recent ones with the stobe lights flashing at the same time. |
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Post by imec on May 21, 2009 13:50:12 GMT
Magnificent! The kids are going to love this!
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2009 14:05:43 GMT
You will be posting the next photos of the fireworks. I will be in Avignon on July 14th.  |
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Post by lagatta on May 21, 2009 15:05:21 GMT
Oh, lucky you. (I'll either be here in Montréal - where the Français de France do put on som bals populaires - or working in Amsterdam, with hopes of being able to get in a few days in a somewhat warmer European country - even Paris is usually warmer, if I can't make it to Italy). Avignon is lovely.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2009 12:03:39 GMT
Oh how I would love to be there to see those fireworks,beautiful pictures K2. I spoke with a dear friend last p.m. who had invited Mr. C and I to join he and his girlfriend over there on the 14th and then so south to Saint Mammes for ten days to house sit for other friends.
Another time perhaps.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2009 11:55:45 GMT
The city of Paris is using photographs of the Millennium fireworks to advertise the special "120th anniversary" fireworks on the 14th. It is going to be a very good year to see the show. Too bad about the crowds.
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Post by hwinpp on Jul 8, 2009 9:30:40 GMT
See what happens here. I know the French Embassy has a big reception and the ambassador shakes nearly every French national's hand.
I won't miss the parade on TV5.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 8, 2009 9:41:00 GMT
I have often enjoyed (distractedly) watching the parade on TV -- it's a lot more enjoyable than actually standing for hours on the street to see it in person, although I think that everybody should see it in person at least once. The last time I went was in 1998 when my brother was in town for the 14th. He has always been interested in all things military. The last time he came to Paris with his wife, she had to physically drag him out of the military museum at the Invalides. (However, I have read on all of the travel forums where wives write about being forced to go there by their husbands, about how much they unexpectedly find it fascinating, too, and very different from what they expected.)
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