Bastille Day Celebrations Along the Grand Canal, Versailles

Happy Bastille Day!

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July 14th 2008
It's the Big Day here in France, and we decided to escape the craziness of Paris for the countryside and Versailles--apparently mirroring Louis XIV's actions about 300 years ago. We managed to negotiate the RER transit system and arrived at Versailles on a glorious blue-sky day--finally! What can one say about Versailles? "Oppulence to the max," we kept saying about everything we saw, but eve ... read more

Europe » France » Île-de-France » Paris

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Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader am... ... read more