Paris shows off its lights

Last night we braved the hordes of Parisians and tourists alike to witness the Fête National (Bastille Day) concert and fireworks display on the packed Champ de Mars. The main lawn approaching the Eiffel Tower was much too crowded for us late-comers, so with some friends we spread our picnic blanket behind some trees on the right corridor of the park. Although we couldn't see the stage, and only parts of the Tower through the tree, the Johnny Halliday (France's Mick Jagger) concert music was blasted throughout and enjoyed by all. Over the next few hours we comfortably enjoyed our wine and thrown-together picnic spread until the sun began to set and the Tower, with lights turned off, was a dark shadow in the twilit sky.

At the sound and tree-obscured sight of the first fireworks, we quickly packed up our picnic remains and moved up to join the standing crowds with a better view, and although some tree limbs blocked the very top of the tower, I was no less amazed at the spectacle.

A light show was projected onto the Tower, depicting in turn the blue, white and red celebrating its creation 120 years ago, a pulsing radio signal, toy soldiers falling to make a skeletal effect remembering the "dark times," and rainbow-colored Flower Power blooms rotating like dancing clockwork. Edith Piaf on the speakers, white, graceful fireworks and the Eiffel Tower's glittering lights (which sparkle hourly on normal evenings) made such a romantic setting for the pre-war years; red lights above and fire-like blasts surrounding the base of the Tower, combined with an intense orchestral piece, evoked both an awe-inspiring and a truly scary World War II scene in front of us. My favorite part was the countdown before the grand finale, when only the light projections were used to make the Tower dance, and then jump, like a gigantic Eiffel Tower robot pounding away in the darkness. And on zero, you guessed it, fireworks lit up the whole sky! Shot out from the top and all sides in a spectacular two-minute finale.

See it for yourself here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUNFxTaCI2c or the whole thing on www.paris.fr, but as it really doesn't do justice to the show, I recommend coming to Paris for the Eiffel Tower's 125th birthday in five years. Joyeux anniversaire, Tour Eiffel!