14th Of July

[andi]

Me again, with another one of those silly little questions.......
As we will be in Paris in July this year, we were wondering about the 14th of July? This year it falls on a Monday, does that mean that the whole weekend before, will be classed as a holiday and that things will be closed down or different? We will be leaving on the 13th, around noon, so obviously we don't want to get caught out with shopping or metro links etc. Any advice you have, will as always, be very much appreciated.

Andi x

[Truffaut]

I've always found that a large number of businesses are open on the 14th. Since it's on a Monday, there may be some additional closures for those who "faire le pont" for a long weekend, but it shouldn't be too disruptive.

[grndma]

Thanks for posting this. We will be arriving late on the evening of the 13th July 2008. As we are staying in an apartment. I was concerned about getting basics like milk and beakfast for the next day the 14th. I didn't really want to take them in my suitcase. Do you think a local supermarker like Franprix will be open or the small Asian shops? We are staying near rue Montorgueil on rue d' Aboukir.
We are planning to go and warch the parade on the Champs Elysees. I believe it starts around 10am . Where do you think is the best vantage point?
Denise
Love from England.

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Denise, I'm sure you will find at least a few small convenience stores open (e.g., on a Sunday morning you typically will find at least one boulangerie open in a neighborhood although everything else is closed). You may have to walk a little further in search, but that will just give you a reason to get out and explore your neighborhood. . . .

[grndma]

I don't know if this should be a separate thread, but could people share with us thier experience of Bastille day (fete national) as it seems a few of us will be in Paris this year.
How does one get to join in the celebrations? ;D ;D
Denise
Love from England

[andi]

I am actually quite "gutted" at the fact we leave the day before Had I given it a thought I could have included the date in the trip, it's too late to change now as I think it costs more on Eurostar. All tickets are booked alas....just gives me an extra reason to go back in July next trip

[GitteK]

www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187147-i14-k578942-Bastille_day-Paris_Ile_de_France.html

This is an ooooold thread from the other forum (from my trip in July 2005) ! And Denise: I would come no later than 9:30 for the parades. Remember that all the metro stations around Champs Elysées and Concorde are closed for security reasons.

I found several of the small immigrant groceries to be open, at least in Rue des Abbesses. And there will be cafés and restaurants and bistrots open all over town, which will be SWARMING with people (think: millions) - French and tourists alike. So you need not worry for the food situation (or drinking ditto.......). It is truly a wonderful day - and one every Paris lover should experience at least once in your life, including sweating in the blazing July heat at Champs Elysées all morning !





I am so happy I got to see my favorite French President at the parade ! At least HE was tall enough to see over the windshield of the jeep in which he was standing.
Petit Sarko will have to bring a stepladder..... ;D



Also remember to go dancing with the firemen the night before. There are parties in numerous places and squares, e.g. Place St. Sulpice (as there is a big firestation in Rue du Vieux Colombier)

If you search in YouTube for Bal+Pompiers+Paris, you will see videos documenting that the Parisian firemen are indeed the hottest guys in town ! E.g. it seems to be a recurrent tradition that they do a striptease act on the roof of the firestation......

Here's a blog showing pictures from earlier Bals des Pompiers, plus adresses of where they took place in 2007 (so that's probably pretty much the same every year):

tinyurl.com/6m5lga

And if you are a Paris softie who tear up easily........ this will kill you in the nicest possible way, of course:

[grndma]

;D Thanks so much for that Gitte, especially the blog which gives details of all the firestations and thier parties,(in English) that is very useful. The photos are brilliant! I am really looking forward to being part of it.
Sorry you will be leaving andiandgaz as we are arriving
Denise
love from England
Gitte this is so useful i am going to give you an exalt

[tekwriter]

Despite many trips to Paris, I've never been there on July 14... until this year! My husband and I will be returning to Paris from Dordogne on the 13th, where we will meet my children, who will be arriving with their father to start their European adventure (mostly to Germany, though). I've been searching for more information on events on the 14th. Gitte, your pictures are superb! We'll certainly not miss the parade, but are there any other events that might appeal to children (ages 12 and 13)?

grndma - I'll meet you at the firemen striptease... I'll NOT miss that for the world!

[GitteK]

tekwriter - there are soldiers all over town in their most glamorous uniforms (also quite an ogling opportunity for mommy.....) - and when I was there in 2006 they had parked a tank at Trocadéro and I believe that the kids were allowed to crawl in and see it - and have their picture taken. There were many children to see the parades, and people were quite nice and helpful to let them come forward and stand in the first line, so that they had a better view.
Only be prepared that it can be quite an ordeal, if it's really hot weather.

Practical tip: the fastfood places on Champs Elys. are open, but you have to buy something to be able to use their toilets (which is only fair).

[grndma]

:)Dear Tekwriter, a very warm wecome to ourParisforum. So nice to hear fom someone else who will be there on Bastille day.
I look forward to seeing you.
Denise
Love from England

[Becky (Berkeleytravelers)]

Hi tek (sorry, couldn't resist : and welcome to the forum! (Love the avatar - very "Wallace & Grommet") Sounds like a really great trip with the children.

[tekwriter]

Merci a tout le monde pour votre acceuil chaleureux! I know many of you from TA (where I'm aka Shaken_Bake). Just happened to see a reference there to this forum, which I am devouring like a millefeuille in preparation for our upcoming trip!

My mother and I are going to Paris first for three days, then to be joined by my husband for our trip to Dordogne (aka Paradise), then when Mom leaves, we return for three more days in Paris, with the ex- and the kids! How 21st century is that!! Great forum, excellent information even for an old Paris veteran. The trips keep getting better and better! Only 7 weeks from today! Tout a l'heure!

[Shoesy]

Tekwriter - Your trip is obviously going to be very diversified, and it's no wonder that you are really looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing your plans with us.

[kdenson]

Grndma - We will be arriving the 13th as well and renting an apartment near Montorgueil on rue d'argout - quite close to where you are! perhaps we should meet up for a drink on the 14th! this will be my husbands's first visit to France and I cannot wait to show him around! oh, and there is a monoprix about 10 minutes walk from our area that is open on sunday evenings

[grndma]

Dear kdenson, I have sent you a PM.
As you talk about the local Monoprix I was wondering if you have been before to that area before?
Denise
Love from England

[kdenson]

I haven't spent much time in the area, but I do know that there is a Monoprix on Rue Sebastopol that is open m-sa from 9-22h. I have yet to find anything that will be open Sunday night, but we are planning on just eating breakfast out the first AM and then grabbing our supplies on Monday afternoon - fingers crossed! These are some other local groceries that are nearer than the Monoprix, but I don't know what they are like:
Marche U - 67 r. montorgueil
Chanoit - 25 r. montorgueil
Auchan - 92 r. reumur
distriberger - 85 bis r. reumur

[Megan]

Gitte

I was at the bastille day parade in 2005 - perhaps we were standing close by as your photos look to be taken from a similar position that I was standing. I wish that I had had this forum then tho as I got up very early, planned the whole trip in on the metro, where I was going to get off etc etc and was on the metro when this message came over in French which I had no idea what they were saying until I realised that we were very quickly going past all the stops that I had inetnded getting off around CE - Yes they were closed so I ended up in the middle of god knows where. Luckily I followed the crowds and got a front row spot !. It was very early and I had quite a wait but it was fab. My ever lasting memory is waking up in my hotel room abut 3 in the morning just down from the Moulin rouge to a swarm of sailors in uniform singing the national anthem . It was fab - I leaned out of the window to get a better look and they serenaded me . What great memories !!!

[GitteK]

Megan - you are too kind, re. the photos.
They are not of my making, but simply looted from the internet .

(I was there in 2006, so a year later than you. And I can understand those sailors would serenade you "leaning out of the window" , as you are an absolute dish ! )

[Megan]

Gitte

How funny - I must admit I did wonder how you got in the middle of the road to get such front on angles - I was very very impressed. Mine of the day were very "side on".

I think the copius amounts of alcohol that obviously had been consumed may have had more to do with the serenading than me hanging out the window after been woken from a deep sleep with hair like a wooly mammoth and the days makeup smeared across my face !!!