Happy Bastille Day to France: Celebrated on the Fourteenth of July, it is the French symbol of the end of the Monarchy and the beginning of the First Republic. [Adam Curry: Adam Curry's Weblog]

Mesmerised yesterday watching the entire french army marching down the Champs Elysee - it would have been a good day to invade from the coast. Afterwards thousands went to the Elysee Palace as guests at the traditional "Garden Party" - not fete de jardin. Only last night did we hear on the news that somebody took a pot shot at Chirac prior to the parade who was arrested and is under psychiatric examination. For Chirac the show went on - you'd never guess it by looking at him.

Went to Fougeres late afternoon to see what the french were up to on Bastille day - we were too late - caught the tale end of a demonstration and then sat in a square soaking it all up. Nice town, citadel of the dukes of Brittany, very impressive war monument. Hard to explain to the kids about the impact of the wars in this part of the world. After years deriding wars and war-makers, we now want them to show respect for the monuments, difficult.

10:22:53 AM