Ballet and Fireworks on Batille Day

After spending the eve dancing the night away under the stars and rain at the Firemen's Ball at the headquarters in the 17th district of Paris, we recuperated with seven hours of sleep and made our way to the Opéra national de Paris–Palais Garnier for a ballet (Frederick Ashton's "La Fille Mal Gardée"). Imagine exiting the metro and being jaw-dropping stunned at this sight (see 1st picture). It was so grandiose, so beautiful! This opera house has got to be my favorite building so far in Paris (and that's saying a lot). During intermissions, we left to catch the metro to la tour Eiffel and met up with the rest of the gang just in time to pop some champagne and watch the fireworks. And let me tell you, if anyone can put on a firework show, it is the French hands down. Their theme this year was the disco (hence the disco ball in the center of the Eiffel Tower). There was a huge crowd, bright lights, and a spectacular array of fireworks blasting in brilliant choreography to some disco classics (mostly American music. They play a lot of that here). It was quite a night. The metro ride back home was a little less fun but we all made it back safe and today will be spent catching up on Parisian history of the Middle Ages. I hope everyone back home is doing well. Vous me manquez (I miss you all).