After cancelling the pre-arranged picnic on the Champ de Mars (thinking the weather would be bad) the sun shone ALL day. It was very windy though so we had lunch at Ilana's (lovely pasta merci a Ilana et Kelvin) followed by the yummiest and cheapest (only 8 euros) 'grillee aux pommes' from the bakery in Belleville. Anyway, even with the sun shining we stuck with the decision of avoiding the Champ de Mars, hearing from most of our French friends that it would be horribly crowded and full of 'cons.' So finally we decided on a free ballet that is offered at the Opera Garnier every year..
We arrive an hour and a half early (thinking that would be MORE than enough time). Oh...how wrong we were. We found the queue on one side of the Opera house and slowly started to follow it round to find the end of the line...around ten minutes later we were still walking. At this point I just started to laugh, I couldn't actually believe how many people there were. The problem was huge tour buses had dropped groups off outside who had obviously just come for the free ballet (as they were all full of oldies on a retirement day out). The queue reached all around the Opera house, all four sides were lined with people, at least five people deep. We were at first happy to queue until we asked one of the workers if we would get in and she clearly explained that although we might get in to the building "vous allez voir rien" (basically you'll see nothing). So pop went that balloon.
Alors...time for a re-group. We were kind of in my area with the Opera being so close to my work so I had a brainwave after remembering Ilana nor Rachel had been on Printemps terrace before. It was beautiful (comme toujours) and I was happy to be there with my good friends.
The idea was then to go to Pont Neuf to see if we could get a good spot to watch the fireworks. However after walking to Concorde and deciding to explore a bit (the staging was still up after the Military Parade) we found ourselves at Pont de la Concorde. After walking down onto the quai Ilana and Kelvin discovered this great little spot with enough room for all of us to sit AND have pizza with a great view of the Tour Eiffel.
After more than a few beers, 2 pizzas and around 3 hours of waiting the fireworks finally began. Although Isabelle said she thought the view from the Champ de Mars was better (because the fireworks are either side of the tower) I was just happy to have a great view, great friends and not to be pushed and shoved around by some moody Parisians.
The fireworks were beautiful and after a very mixed year which has included falling in and out of love, more than a touch of heartbreak, a new job, a new apartment, new and old friends arriving and leaving and much much more they helped to summarise my feelings for Paris. I found myself feeling that even now, after everything Paris still has a part of my heart. It's not all tarnished for me.
I don't know if this is a sign of the end or a new beginning but all I know is I'm still here and I'm still fighting, Some things are worth fighting for.
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