Vive la France! Bon la Fete Nationale!

At the very least, have a glass of French Wine today. It's Bastille Day, one of the world's great celebrations of freedom!

Le quatorze juillet has, in one way or another, been celebrated since the first anniversary of the 1789 storming of the Bastille, key to the formation of the First Republic. It is known to us as a symbol of the French Revolution which would eventually result in the democratic republic of France today.

Denver by the Slice was lucky enough to be in Paris one year on Bastille Day. The streets rumbled with the military parade down the Champs from the Arc to Place Concorde. By now the French use "helper armies" to fill the ranks, but the spectacle remains.

And, at the end of the day, fireworks over the city. It is a glorious time to be in Paris, one of any. But, even though our visit was several years ago, we have never  since seen a fireworks display to match. So big, so long, so musical, so Paris. And, then, with no hope of getting a taxi back to the hotel, a long walk through the Paris night...with about a million of our closest friends!

And, since (probably if you are reading this) you are not in Paris, you can still take a vicarious French tour by watching the outstanding photography in the television coverage of the Tour de France bicycle race, for the rest of July. Tune in and take off. It is a beautiful country!