Deal Kid’s Favorite shot of the Eiffel Tower Bastille Day fireworks, July 14, 2013. Hyatt Etoile Hotel, Paris, France.
When we last left our story, I had been finally offered a room with the view we needed for the evening’s fireworks, but at a stiff penalty: it was 80 percent smaller than the room we were already in! I had a decision to make…so I decided to throw some money at the problem.
I asked the front desk manager if she would be willing to rent me the smaller room at a reduced rate since we really only needed it for the hour of the fireworks and we could remain in the Ambassador suite. I think at this point she was relieved to be offered any face-saving out and offered me a rate of 100 Euro. We shook on the rate and the Deal Kids went out and enjoyed our day in the city.
About 10PM, we retired to the (as Deal Girl named it) “Party Room” with our Parisian snacks and chocolates, opened the window (not something I expected on the 19th floor!), and turned on the TV to hear the simulcast of the festivities below. As you can see, we did indeed have a great view.
What you can’t tell from the pictures is the magic of the 180+ degrees of it all…there must have been 5 suburbs also doing fireworks in the background, and some of the fireworks themselves seemed to be coming right AT us. I’ve seen the show in Downtown DC numerous times, and Paris blew it away.
Also of note was the musical selection, which to my “God Bless the USA” trained ears made me LOL at times. Nirvana? Hair? Madonna? Besides “La Marseille” at the very beginning, it was definitely more “Party Rock” than “America the Beautiful” in tone.
Tres cool.
I know fireworks on 14 Julliet are new to the French and I love the irreverent way they’ve embraced it. I can’t recommend this event highly enough and the Hyatt Etoile, warts and all, as a place to witness it. Book your room now for next year and hope Hyatt has the bumps evened out by then.
I have been waiting to see what your decision would be – not what I expected. What a great compromise!
you ARE going to post more firework photos later on right? =)