Woke this morning to the sound of hovering helicopters overhead. Then from our balcony, we could see a huge flag of Paris raised in Triomphe within the famous Arc. It is Bastille Day!

We joined crowds the size of the Rose Parade and the Mardi Gras combined to watch a military parade make its way down what Joel calls the “Champs” (like in the champs of the soccer game).

Post-parade play time and photo ops avec le militaire.

The magnifique production of “La Boheme” at the modern Bastille Opera House left us wishing for encores. Our tour of the baroque and original opera house, the Palais Garnier, allowed us to view Chagall’s ceiling and admire the finest of materials and features throughout.

Architect Charles Garnier designed his opera house so that season ticket holders could enter on their “red carpet” to be viewed by the more common folks who came early to find a pre-concert viewing spot within one of these interior boxes.

The Oaks Mall would shrivel in shame if it knew about the Lafayette Gallery and the Bon Marche here in Paris.

Below is my kind of food truck that is parked in the middle of the produce department of the Bon Marche department store.

No, we are not bringing back any “bling”. Here, instead, is a picture of bling that we can admire any time. We found it in the drinking water display at the Bon Marche. One bottle sells for 60 Euros (80 USD).

Yesterday, Paris was raining nonstop, and we headed with a guide and another tourist to Monet’s Giverny and to Van Gogh’s Auvers-sur-Oise. You can see Monet’s home hiding behind his lush and glorious and well-manicured gardens.

On the way to visiting the room where Van Gogh lived until his death by suicide, we stopped to view a photo of his famous painting. The “real deal” stands in the background.

We are hoping the Bastille Day fireworks from the Eiffel Tower can be viewed from our balcony tonight because our energy is starting to wind down. Tomorrow will be our 56th day of ‘splorin’ and walkin’, walkin’, walkin’. Then, we will pack our bags for the 14th time. Next stop: friends, family, English language, knowing our way around, home cooking and so many new memories to be made.