Fêtes de July

July is a very busy month here. Tourists are filling up the office all day every day, and it gets pretty hot as well. We don't really need any excuses to throw a party and release some stress, but luckily, July has a couple holidays to give us some opportunities. 

For the 4th, we go all out with the American pride. Quite a few of our guides and staff aren't American, so we have to show them what it's all about, mostly with food. We had sloppy joes, hot dogs, salsa and guacamole, mac and cheese, potato salad, coleslaw, deviled eggs, PB&J, brownies, cookies, and three different cakes (one decorated like the flag).

I'm not sure what inspired us to make that pyramid, but I noticed just now that all but one of the bottom row are not American, but everyone else is. Showing our American dominance? I wasn't allowed to be in the pyramid, so I got to hold the flag. 

Less than two weeks later we switch parties, but keep the color scheme and the location the same. The French national holiday on the 14th of July, culminates with a giant fireworks show at the Eiffel Tower. We staked out a spot early in the day and tried to learn Le Marseillaise while waiting. 

I never did learn the words, but the fireworks show was over 40 minutes and pretty spectacular. 

Did I mention the park was packed? As in you couldn't move anywhere in any direction until it was over. Then the stampede began to get to the metro and catch a train home. The streets were filled as we had to walk a ways to find one open we could get into. But we made it home ok and have memories of a very fun night.