Our trip to Paris was planned to coincide with the fireworks around the Eiffel Tower for Bastille Day, or as the French are sometimes quick to correct us, La Fête Nationale.   I arrived at the 59th floor of Tour Montparnasse nine hours early hoping to find a prime view of the Eiffel Tower.  There were very few spots left at that time, but was allowed to squeeze into one of the last remaining spots, thanks to Paris photographers Elhadj Ndoye and Laurent Sigwald.  It is the start of a goal of mine to get fireworks at several famous locations, such as the Statue of Liberty, Sydney Bridge and maybe Big Ben.

The fireworks display was certainly not a disappointment.  Fireworks shot off from every level and nook on the Eiffel Tower, making grand designs which lasted for half an hour.  It seems a huge organizational feat to strap so many pyrotechnics to the structure and have them shoot off at not just the right moment but the correct angle as well.