13 juillet
Bastille Day celebrations actually start the night before with fireworks and parties. The biggest events are the firefighters' balls hosted in the firehouses which raise money for charity. Judging by the reports, the prospect of the male firefighters taking off their shirts is the biggest attraction.
But first I sprinted off to see an early evening showing of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Easyjetsetter. I thought I was going to be late but stopped to get a bag of sweets anyway. Usually, I don't bother, but I remember going to see Chocolat at the Rialto without having bought chocolate beforehand. Gnnnh. The staff handed out free peanut slabs which was a nice gesture but almost worse than no chocolate at all.
Anyway, Depp and Burton do not disappoint and I pretty much agree with Easyjetsetter's review of the film.
Later that night, Ronald and me went to check out the bal des pompiers in Le Marais and ran into a huge and largely immobile queue. So we tried the one near Les Halles. Same queue. We abandoned the firefighters and caught the end of the swinging Brazilian concert at Place de la Bastille instead. The only name I'd recognised on the poster was Gilberto Gil but whoever the last act was must have been pretty popular as well because heaps of people were singing and dancing along.
After the concert finished, we discovered that the last métro times posted were a total lie and that the métro had already closed. So, we parked ourselves on a curb with our crêpes and spent our time gasbagging while waiting for the crowds to disperse.
There was not a taxi to be had so we decided to walk to Châtelet to catch the night bus. Overwhelmed by thirst after ten minutes walk, we stopped at the Dôme for a drink. We got served but right after that the waiters started to clear away the empty tables and chairs leaving us in a funny little island on the pavement. "We're not doing this to chase you away." Ten minutes later, "Go away now." So we skulked off to catch our bus, amused.
But first I sprinted off to see an early evening showing of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with Easyjetsetter. I thought I was going to be late but stopped to get a bag of sweets anyway. Usually, I don't bother, but I remember going to see Chocolat at the Rialto without having bought chocolate beforehand. Gnnnh. The staff handed out free peanut slabs which was a nice gesture but almost worse than no chocolate at all.
Anyway, Depp and Burton do not disappoint and I pretty much agree with Easyjetsetter's review of the film.
Later that night, Ronald and me went to check out the bal des pompiers in Le Marais and ran into a huge and largely immobile queue. So we tried the one near Les Halles. Same queue. We abandoned the firefighters and caught the end of the swinging Brazilian concert at Place de la Bastille instead. The only name I'd recognised on the poster was Gilberto Gil but whoever the last act was must have been pretty popular as well because heaps of people were singing and dancing along.
After the concert finished, we discovered that the last métro times posted were a total lie and that the métro had already closed. So, we parked ourselves on a curb with our crêpes and spent our time gasbagging while waiting for the crowds to disperse.
There was not a taxi to be had so we decided to walk to Châtelet to catch the night bus. Overwhelmed by thirst after ten minutes walk, we stopped at the Dôme for a drink. We got served but right after that the waiters started to clear away the empty tables and chairs leaving us in a funny little island on the pavement. "We're not doing this to chase you away." Ten minutes later, "Go away now." So we skulked off to catch our bus, amused.