VIVE LE FRANCE

It’s Bastille Day in France, 14 July 1789 – Fête Nationale -- when its irate citizens stormed the Bastille military fortress and prison represented by royal authority. In other words, the French Revolution.

Today the French would normally celebrate with the largest military parade in Europe - with fireworks and fire station balls included – up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe and down the other side to the Place de Concorde.

This year, because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was confined to a smaller celebration at Concorde. Where, in 1793, the irate citizens of France beheaded King Louis XV1.

The last time we witnessed a wild French celebration there was several years ago when Rosanne and I planted ourselves up against the barred barrier for the final, agonizing stretch of the Tour de France cycling race.

It ended with riders flying up the Champs-Elysees around the Arc de Triomphe and back down to the Place de la Concorde. The excitement of one matched the excitement of the other.