Bastille Day, 8ème arr.

PRESIDENT SARKOZY'S ARRIVAL AND TODAY'S PROCESSION ON THE CHAMPS-ELISEES

I've always wanted to be in Paris for the 14th of July and today lived up to expectations. Just about 4000 people marched down the Champs-Elisees in perfect sync and the country's latest aircraft zoomed over the crowds. The celebrations commemorate the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris, key event in French Revolution. The Bastille has since been demolished but I went to visit the site anyhow a few days back. You have to look hard or you won't notice this: a row of three paving stones marks out the outline old prison's plan on the ground. A nice way to keep track of history.