14 juillet 2009, Montluçon to Paris

TUESDAY
Joyeuse Fête Nationale! (Happy National Holiday/Bastille Day)

July fourteenth commemorates the storming of the Bastille (French fortesse and prison), which took place on this date in 1789 and it was a key event in the French Revolution.

My empty room. The kitchen.

The living room. The dining room.

Monsieur Champeyrol and me in his kitchen.
Monsieur Champeyrol ever so kindly gave Leslie and I a ride to the train station in the rain.

The train passes Barry Canal on the way to Paris, gare d'Austerlitz. Leslie writing.
My good friend, gare d'Austerlitz, which was been my hub this year when going to and from Paris.

Leslie shares her birthday with France. Leslie opens some presents in the Paris hotel room.

Leslie looks into a boulangerie, which is closed due to the national holiday.We walk to Bois de Vincennes (Vincennes Woods) and walk around lac Daumesnil, which was filled with Parisiens taking advantage of this beautiful day off of work by picnicing and rowing around the lake.

Leslie talking to Mom on the phone.

Leslie picking out cookies at La Cure Gourmande. Bercy Village.

There was an incredible amount of police and national guard around Paris, especially around the Eiffel Tower, which was the center of Bastille Day festivities.People lined the bank of le Seine with food and friends... In my opinion, the fourteenth of July for the French is more about embracing the leisure culture of France than expressing political patriotism. It was amazing to be in Paris and see so many people. (Unfortunately, my camera battery died and I was unable to capture it).