La Fête Nationale - Bastille Day in Paris

We'd arranged with our hosts, to have a night away in Paris, leaving Havana to look after herself. This would allow us the chance to see the fireworks from Le Tour Eiffel on Monday 13th July and the Fête Nationale Parade down the Champs Elysée on Tuesday morning. Our delightful suburban oasis is on Metro line 14, and we're only two stops away from Orly airport, but surprisingly we've yet to hear a plane, let alone see one. However the close proximity to Paris' second most significant airport resuted in the extension of line 14 a few years ago in honour of the Olympics and this means a mere 15 minute walk and we're on a brand new air conditioned metro train, and in the centre of Paris in 35 minutes. Being close to the end of the line also guarantees us a seat.

I'd booked a room at the Mecure near Gare Montparnasse, with a balcony as there was a chance we may be high enough to see the fireworks. And if not we weren't far away from a street corner/ bar that would offer a partial view. But here's where the fun begins. We check in, take our keys and head to our room on the 6th floor, only to find that it's indeed a rooftop room but instead of a verandah, it has four fixed windows like angled skylights with the sun beating down on them behind the metal shutters, which naturally are all closed so it is almost pitch-dark. The outside temperature is 37 degrees, but even with aircon you would barely survive.

Back to reception to present my Booking.com voucher, clearly stating my room with verandah, and pleasantly seeking a solution. After some time the manager appears and offers an alternative room, but still without a verandah. My earlier thorough research had highlighted several Mecure properties on the left bank so my proposed solution was for the manager to seek us alternative accommodation with a verandah at another Mecure property. Twenty minutes elapsed when he finally returned, and the confirmation email for a room with a verandah appeared in my email box.

We had a 30 minute walk across the Jardin du Luxembourg where half of Paris was escaping the heat, before we arrived at Hotel Mecure Paris, La Sorbonne. First impressions, a classy cool lobby with a nice little bar were indeed favourable, and when Amilee welcomed us with an invitation to view two rooms with balconies, our prayers were indeed answered. We chose the verandah overlooking the Paris rooftops and the setting sun, and after a refreshing GnT in the bar, organised the verandah and opened the bottle of champagne we had carried in the backpack. Sante!

There were four hours until the fireworks, and we'd picked a viewing location in Le Jardin Luxembourg so how should we remain awake. By eating of course. Colvert was a restaurant I'd enjoyed when I was in Paris for the Olympics so Amelie kindly made a reservation for 9pm and we were able to savour some delicious and different food, and Roger some interesting wines. Our walk up the hill to Le Jardin Luxembourg was in vain as we found the gates to the gardens, firmly shut. So we walked quickly back to our hotel and joined the fireworks with a birds eye view on our TV! It was indeed spectacular with lots of drone displays and some wonderful sound and light presentations, no smell of gunpowder though, so for a pyromaniac's partner, it wasnt quite the same as the real thing. Next year maybe?

After our hotel breakfast buffet, we checked out and headed along the Seine to find the optimum viewing point for the military flypast, and the video tells the story. It was indeed spectacular and the continuing display of military aircraft and helicopters that flew in formation down the river was brilliant. We knew it would be impossible to get near the parade itself, due to the crowds and security, but instead loitered in a bar on the side streets as the military contingents dispersed. There were crowds, but not as many as we'd imagined for France's national holiday, but no doubt the high temperatures kept many people away.

A speedy trip home on the metro, to find Havana stretched out on the cool tiles in the garden shed.Read more