First Time in France: Bastille Day

Last Thursday, I rode the high speed Eurostar train from London to Paris as a little birthday present to myself.  Made it just in time for the Bastille Day (Night) celebration.  Truly a shame what happened in Nice.  :[  Thankfully, Paris was at peace.  

Hotel concierge told me where to go to watch the fireworks over the Eiffel Tower.  I didn’t have time to get to the Trocadero, but my hotel was near l’Arc de Triomphe, and I figured this could be a decent spot to set up my tripod.  

Scoped out a spot with the Arc on the left, Eiffel on right, moon in sight.  This was suiting up to be a perfect 'long-exposure-double-famous-monument-fireworks-photo-phenomena'.

Not a bad view!

Long exposure could be cool, light trails of cars, and fireworks off in distance...

But, as soon as the show started, ALL the cars driving around the Place Charles de Gaulle circle just STOPPED.  Right in the middle of the roundabout to watch the show.  Completely blocked my view.

And then, people started popping up out of their sunroofs like Whack a Moles.

Photo phenomena fizzled.  Packed up the tripod...plan B.  

It’s really tough finding a spot to watch fireworks when 90% are watching the show through the lens of their smartphones.  You can imagine the looks on the French faces as this American is getting in the way of their precious iPhone videos.  No poker faces in Paris -- if they don’t like you, it’ll be obvious.  

I improvised and feel like I got a couple decent snaps.  Of course, it would have been sweet to be closer, and get some long exposure goodness.  But, just happy Paris was a peaceful place.

The show was pretty impressive, fireworks shooting out of the top of the Tower.

And it felt like there were 3 distinct finales.  Love fireworks!  (Especially when they're not at 7am, Cusco.)

So much more to say about my Parisian adventure...stay tuned... 

Cusco’s Curious Fireworks Fascination

I love fireworks.  Maybe it's cuz I’m a July 11th baby, 1 week after the 4th.  And they remind me of  “Summer, summer summer time!  Time to sit back and unwind...aaand unwiiind.”  

Cusco LOVES fireworks.  Maybe a little too much?  I know what you’re thinking... “But, Matt, is there such thing as too much fireworks?”  Well, actually yes.  I'll explain...

When we first arrived in Cusco, the city was abuzz in anticipation of the Inti Raymi Festival on June 24th.  For 2+ weeks before the big sun festival, the city had parades in Plaza de Armas every day, all day long and into the evening.  

And, they had fireworks.  Lots of em!!!  

Some sets of works seem to be lit about a mile from my hotel.  Here’s a show that happened on Sunday the 19th, around ~11pm.  Just opened my hotel door, stepped outside and started filming:

June 24th is the Inti Raymi Sun Festival here in Cusco, but they party hard in the weeks leading up to the event. Seems like there are fireworks every night! This is the view from my hotel---I just walked right outside my door, and started filming. Peru likes to party!!!

But, there’s one curious Cusquenan tradition that I am still baffled by.  

(OH WAIT, literally as I just typed that, fireworks went off, 7:43pm)  

Morning fireworks.

Yep, morning fireworks.  Almost every morning, I am woken up to a series of fireworks around 6-7am.  We’re not talking a big show or anything, no finale.  Just a series of pops that lasts about :05 - :10 secs.  About a mile away from my hotel.  

This morning, there were approximately 5 or 6 sets of fireworks from ~6 - 8am.  The Inti Raymi Sun Festival is over a week ago.  But, the works keep comin'!

(OH, and there's more that just went off:  7:52pm) 

Wow, Cusco has a serious fascination with works of fire.  

I'm gonna miss Cusco!!!  But, I won't miss being woken up to fireworks.

Lastly, a short video of Patrick and I walking down to Plaza de Armas, and guess what?  Fireworks at the 0:52 mark!

Sorry about the random conversation about GoPro audio quality, I just like the visuals in this. And, surprise! Fireworks starting at the 0:52 mark!