La Fête Nationale du 14 juillet 2013

I took the opportunity available and ended up in Paris for a whirlwind weekend that ended in the national fireworks. July 14th for us started with a military parade down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in view of the Arc de Triomphe

secret service simply wouldn't get out of the picture but you can see the giant flag

tank parking

I've never seen a helicopter parade before but here it is

 then we ended up on the banks of the Seine at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. We picnicked there so we saw all the various stages of the Eiffel Tower.

at this point it's twinkling

...and the flag was still there? oops, wrong country. le drapeau tricolore!

one of the final volleys