I want to write it as if it were a monologue diary. I hope that my recent reviews in 2024 will be of some help to your trip.
2024/07/14/Sun Day 5 of Europe Trip
The 5th day was Paris' Independence Day and BTS Jin carried the torch at the Louvre Museum section at around 8:30 PM. The day of the torch relay! I thought it would be a special memory to participate in the site, so I wanted to go to the Louvre Museum on time, but it was so crowded with people that I wondered if I would be able to return to my accommodation safely.
When I was planning my trip, I didn't know much about France's Independence Day and the torch relay schedule, so I planned to go to the Orsay Museum and the Louvre Museum on Sunday, the last day of the Museum Pass. However, I found out while traveling that there was an issue with public transportation control on July 14th, Independence Day. The subway and buses stopped running from 5 or 6 PM or had long intervals. While visiting the museum, I was worried that my return to my accommodation might be delayed or that traffic control might start earlier than expected, so I decided to enjoy and tour as close to my accommodation as possible.
When I turned on the TV in my accommodation in the morning, a live broadcast of a parade related to Independence Day was on the French channel. Bastille Day! I felt like a Parisian citizen who was spending Sunday leisurely watching TV in Paris like I was watching TV at home on the weekend. I experienced a very important Parisian holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison, which was the beginning of the French Revolution.
I had lunch at Trattoria Napoletana Da Enzo, a pizza place right below my accommodation, at around 11:30. I had margherita pizza, lasagna, and bottled beer. I was able to fully experience the feeling of being a Parisian by eating while looking at the street view from the table outside the restaurant. A meal that conveyed the unique atmosphere of Paris while looking at the buildings on the street! While I was eating lunch, a Parisian old man walking next to me told me that there would be fireworks in the evening and left! At first, I thought fireworks was just fire, but I was glad I understood it better later! Thank you for the good information, and I immediately added watching fireworks to my evening schedule.
(Trattoria Napoletana Da Enzo Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iimTSP5fAHKn9T2f8)
After lunch, I went to a large mart near my accommodation to buy some water and look around. The prices weren't expensive because it was so big. I wanted to try various fruits, so I chose kiwi, raspberries, strawberries, cherries, pears, peaches, etc. In addition, I bought yogurt, mozzarella cheese, burrata cheese, cookies, wine, etc. I was recommended to try dairy products because France has a developed dairy industry. I was impressed by the yogurt and cheese. I thought both yogurt and cheese were cheap for the amount and taste. The best fruit was the flat peach! The fruit pear had a unique shape, but the taste was similar but slightly different, so it was interesting and sweet and delicious! I ate Fermier yogurt, which was luxurious and had a different flavor!
(Intermarché EXPRESS Paris Mart Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/VktYsAG7SeETx6Nf8)
I took a walk from my accommodation toward the Eiffel Tower while looking at the Eiffel view. While looking around the nearby streets and buildings, I saw a multi-cosmetic shop that felt similar to Monju Pharmacy, so I went in. After looking around and thinking about this and that, I bought Uriage lip balm because it was cheap! It was light and small, so it was easy to store in my carrier, so I bought several! I also bought a small hand cream. I refrained from buying heavy or food-related souvenirs like cookies and chocolates in Rome, the last destination of my trip.
(Pharmacie EIFFEL COMMERCE - Paris 15 store Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dZR9KMJzTPVdRigU9)
There was a Statue of Liberty on the Seine River too! Mini Statue of Liberty. Since the Seine River is within walking distance, I walked to see the river and found it. I was curious about the story of the statue, so I searched and did a self-guide. It is said that France gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States first, and the United States sent it to France in return. It was a cute mini Statue of Liberty. I enjoyed the river view, bought a croissant and coffee, and relaxed and healed.
(Paris Statue of Liberty Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZeaPF5GVE3SCyfyA8)
I arrived at my accommodation around 6:30 PM to have a simple dinner with the things I bought at the mart at my accommodation, and took a short rest. As I was lying in bed resting, checking the remaining schedule, and organizing my luggage, the time to go see the fireworks was quickly approaching.
I left my accommodation around 10 PM and walked toward the Eiffel Tower getting bigger, looking forward to the fireworks. Many citizens living near my accommodation also came out to watch, so I walked with them. I saw a mart on the way, so my friend and I bought a beer. Blanc and Heineken! While walking, a citizen said, “Best Good Heineken!”, so I laughed for a moment. The Eiffel Tower, which was visible between the buildings, was charming. The Eiffel Tower got bigger and bigger as I walked.
The fireworks was scheduled to start at 11 PM, but they started at 11:30 PM, which was later than the schedule. I was worried that the fireworks wouldn’t start because they hadn’t started yet, but I was glad that I was able to see them! Other citizens were waiting, so it was good that I waited with them! It was convenient because I could easily walk near my accommodation to see the fireworks, so I thought positively. The fireworks were not open to the public that day, so the area near the Eiffel Tower was completely controlled by the police. On the other hand, there were a lot of people near the accommodation, so we watched the fireworks together. On this day, if there was even a little bit of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, there must have been a lot of people in every corner.
After watching the fireworks, we returned to the accommodation and finished our schedule by enjoying a late-night pizza that we took out and some fruit and wine that we bought at the mart. Since our trip coincided with a big anniversary in France, it was meaningful and nice to be able to enjoy the fun atmosphere together. We had a fun day with the concept of not missing the fireworks and enjoying it leisurely like a local near the accommodation!
It seemed leisurely, but it was a day where we walked and moved diligently again to look around the mart and the accommodation and watch the fireworks! Fortunately, we rested at the accommodation in between!
I will return with a review of Day 6!
(Moving accommodations for Disneyland and enjoying Disneyland)
review of Day 1 : https://www.happybooo.com/2024/09/Europe%20Travel%20Review%20Day%201%20France%20Paris%20.html
(Eiffel Tower and beautiful fireworks in Paris on France's important national holiday, Independence Day)